Jakarta: Hundreds of Christians ask President for justice on places of worship
Jakarta (AsiaNews) - More than 200 Protestant Christians, belonging to two
different communities for a long time victims of persecution, gathered
yesterday in front of the Presidential Palace in Jakarta - the seat of the Head
of State Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono - to demonstrate "peacefully"
against the
expropriation of places of worship and seek the application of laws on "religious
freedom". In
particular, the faithful denounce the abuses and violations of dozens of
Islamist groups, the manipulation of the law to their liking and the inertia of
the state and institutions, including the same Yudhoyono, who have not taken
steps or concrete measures to restore
legality. A
battle supported by many human rights activists and local NGOs, concerned by
the continuing deterioration of the situation.
The
protest march held yesterday (pictured) was attended by the faithful of the Gki Yasmin Church (YC), from the Bogor
regency in West Java, and Christians from Hkbp Filadelfia, also in Bekasi regency in West Java. For
three years the faithful of YC can not access the place of worship, sealed at
the behest of local authorities and the Mayor Diani Budiarto, who has denounced
alleged irregularities in the release of IBM, the necessary building permit to
build in Indonesia. A
similar situation to that of the faithful of Hkbp Filadelfia, who for years
fought in vain against the officials of Bekasi.
The
Christians who gathered in front of Merdeka Palace - the Presidential Palace, -
were given the full support of the President of the World Council of Churches,
Reverend SAE Nabadan, solidarity was also expressed by Eva Sundari, the
Indonesian parliamentarian, who attended the event and Sites
Musdah Mulia, prominent figures in the struggle to defend human rights.
However
no significant official position was taken by President Yudhoyono, who months
ago had stated that he could not "interfere" in the "internal
affairs" of Bogor. A
position criticized by activists, who claim the head of state does is afraid of
"alienating" the Islamic fringe in the fear of losing votes and
support.
The
Yasmin Church, a Protestant church,
is the victim of an apparent violation of the law and religious freedom
perpetrated by the local mayor Diani Budiarto that, contravening the dictates
of a constitutional court ruling in favor of Christians, has banned all
religious celebrations on the site. The
building was designed according to the criteria established by law and has the
building permit (IMB) required for the construction of places of worship. Last
October, the mayor deployed security forces against the faithful, who can no
longer use the place of worship and can not even pray in public.
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26/10/2018 14:04
