ASIA/INDONESIA - Islamic extremists' campaign against Christians; for the Church “the only way is dialogue”

Jakarta (Agenzia Fides) – Indonesian Islamic extremist groups have launched a campaign “against the Christianization of Indonesia” and "the adoption of Sharia in the country.” In the past several days, Bekasi, a town at 30 km from Jakarta, has been hosting a conference for over 200 leaders of radical Islamic groups, including the Islam Defender Front (FPI), the "Bekasi Movement Against Apostates,” and the “Islamic Ummah Forum.”
The conference was centered "on the alarming phenomenon of Christianization, which occurs not only in Bekasi, but throughout Indonesia," said Habib Rizieq, leader of the FPI, in his speech. In a statement of 32 recommendations, Congress urges administrators of the city to "govern according to the principles of Islam and Sharia." These groups have created a new formation known as the "Bekasi Islamic Presidium,” which has already launched an appeal to all the mosques of the city to "fight Christianization."
The campaign has generated concern in local Christian communities. According to Fides sources, "even the police fear such groups that often promote or incite violent actions. It must be said, however, that Bekasi is turning into a battleground between opposing extremes: fueling the tension is also the work of proselytism performed by numerous Protestant denominations, in Jakarta and its surroundings."
The major Muslim groups in Indonesia have repudiated claims of the Congress of Bekasi, reaffirming the value of a secular state: "If we call for the Sharia in Bekasi, other religious communities in other provinces could do the same, calling for policies based on the principles of faiths," said Iqbal Sulam, Secretary General of "Nahdlatul Ulama," one of the largest Indonesian Muslim organizations, with 60 million followers. "Islam is a blessing for the whole universe and it is a duty for all Muslims to respect believers of other faiths," he added.
Archbishop Johannes Pujasumarta, Secretary General of the Conference of Bishops, in an interview with Fides, said: "With the Muslim leaders and those of other religions, we recently reaffirmed our desire to work together to build a society based on harmony and peace, asking the government to work towards this same goal, which preserves the common good. We intend to continue on this path, without responding to provocation and without fueling tensions. We reiterate that we are always willing to dialogue. Dialogue is the only way and the right way to be Indonesians, respecting the pluralism of the nation."
As Fides has learned from the Indonesia Christian Communication Forum (ICCF), in 2009-2010 in the area of Bekasi, there have been six incidents of attacks on churches or Christian institutions. Recent episodes confirmed the latent tension: an offensive video against the Koran and Islam was circulated on the Internet by a Christian student in early May led to an attack on a Catholic school in Bekasi. Days ago the religious services in a Protestant church were prohibited by Islamic militants; also a sculpture of three women, believed to be obscene, was removed from a public place of Bekasi, following the protests of Islamic organizations. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 06/30/2010)