The statement was made here on Monday by activists from several NGOs in Indonesia, namely Benny N Furqan of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), Siti Maimunah of the Mining Advocacy Network, and Haris Azhar of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras).
Also Tama Langkun of the Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW), Ray Rangkuti of Lingkar Madani Indonesia), Riza Damanik of The People`s Coalition for Fisheries Justice (KIARA) and Yudi Latif of the Reform Institute.
In their written statement announced at a discussion hosted by the Ma`arif Institute, the activists quoted President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono`s statement last August 17, 2010 that Indonesian laws support pluralism, tolerance and the freedom to embrace a religion.
"However, according to a report made by former Chief of National Police Bambang Hendarso Danuri during a meeting with members of the House of Representatives last August 30, 2010, the number of acts of violence against a certain religious group increased from 40 cases in 2009 to 49 cases in 2010," Beni N Furqan said.
The activists urged the government to seriously handle and solve the violence cases in accordance with provisions in the 1945 Constitution.
In 2010, there were several cases of violence against certain minority groups, one of which involved a certain mass organization and a religious congregation in Bekasi,
West Java province, last September 2010 which caused two people to be injured.
Asiah Lumbuan Toruan (49) and pastor Luspida (40) were attacked by unknown persons on Jalan Pondok Timur Asam, Cikeuting, Mustika Jaya, Bekasi, on September 12, 2010. Asiah suffered a stab wound to his abdomen while Luspida suffered a bump on her head.
After the attack, the two were immediately taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Eight people on motorcycles were believed to have attacked the two while they were walking towards the location of a religious service.
(Uu.A061/HAJM/S012/P003)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
