Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Jakarta (Agenzia Fides) – "We have no news of imminent threats or violence against Christians. Bekasi Islamist groups have only launched a warning for now. Parliamentarians, civil society, and radical Muslim organizations have all condemned the FPI (Front Pembela Islam). There has been a joint movement that comforts us. The Church, along with all these organizations, is asking the government to stop them and to clearly defend a culture of respect for human dignity, human rights, and fundamental freedoms protected by the Indonesian Constitution. This is what Fides was told by Fr. Benny Suseyto, Executive Secretary of the Commission for Ecumenism and Interreligious Affairs within the Indonesian Bishops' Conference.
The FPI has recently created special "guards" to signal and stop the alleged "mass conversions" organized by Christians (see Fides 30/6/2010). In the city of Bekasi, there are moving groups of militants dressed in martial arts uniforms, which Christians observe with concern.
Fr. Benny reminds Fides that "the FPI is a minority group which tries to fuel the tension and hatred between religions, manipulating the population. The true Indonesiam Islam is the moderate one. The major Muslim organizations such as 'Nadhlatul Ulama' (60 million members) and 'Muhammadiyah' (40 million) have always shown a face dialogue and peace. With them, we defend the idea of a nation inspired by the five principles of Pancasila and mutual respect among all religious communities."
The priest said that at the roots of the matter, which often takes its toll on Catholics as well, "are tensions with groups of Christian preachers, often not identified with any church, who create problems with their excessive proselytizing."
As for the work and the free reign of radical FPI, the Secretary notes that "there is an internal problem among the police, where there are members who support the FPI. Furthermore, there are protections policies.” The National Commission for Human Rights - a State agency - said publicly that in some recent incidents where the FPI was involved (blocking a meeting among parliamentarians), the police were "negligent."
Open support for the FPI in the political world comes from the "Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), who are contrary to labeling the Front an "illegal organization." A parliamentary forum issued a statement calling for support for an initiative to publicly ban the FPI, but the only Islamic party to sign it was the National Awakening Party (PKB), founded by the illustrious Abdurrahman Wahid, former Indonesian president and former leader of the Islamic Nadhlatul Ulama. Neither PKS, nor the United Development Party (PPP), nor the National Mandate Party (PAN) have wanted to join the campaign.
The PAN was founded by Amien Rais, former leader of the Muhammadiyah (in the period 1995-1998), the second Islamic organization in Indonesia. The Muhammadiyah is celebrating today its 46th Congress and the centenary of its foundation. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 06/07/2010)
