Indonesia: Authorities Called on to Uphold Rights
Sep 04 2007
Postings >> Indonesia

Indonesia's religious minorities have called on the authorities to do more to uphold freedom of worship -- as five militants go on trial for violence against Christians.

Community leaders representing several different faiths issued a joint statement to mark the 62nd anniversary of Indonesia's Independence Day. They claimed that peace and prosperity depended on 'pluralism' -- everyone having equal human and especially religious rights.

'We need to revive the spirit of freedom promoted by our founding fathers,' said Amidan, chairman of the Indonesian Ulema (Islamic scholars) Council. He was speaking at a press conference organised by the Indonesian Committee on Religion and Peace.

But lobbying the authorities and convincing Indonesia's religious extremists are entirely different matters. Five Islamist militants are currently being tried at the South Jakarta district court, charged with a string of brutal attacks, including the beheading of three Christian schoolgirls in Poso in 2005. 7x7 reported on April 3, 2007, that three other militants were convicted in March of their involvement in the schoolgirls' murder.

The state prosecutor at one of the current hearings claimed that the attacks over the past three years were intended to halt the growth of Christianity in the Central Sulawesi region.

• Thank God for the show of unity between Indonesia's faith groups.
• Pray that the Indonesian authorities would heed this call for greater religious freedom.