http://www.asianewsnet.net/home/news.php?id=17290&sec=3
Ahmadiyah: State terrorism
Editorial Desk
The Jakarta Post
Publication Date : 08-02-2011
The murder of three Ahmadiyah followers in Banten on Sunday is a concrete
example of state-sponsored terrorism against the country's own citizens. With
the full - very sorry to say - backing of the state, bloody oppression and even
the butchering of Indonesians will continue to haunt us. This street-side
persecution of those with different views, faiths or backgrounds than the
majority by those with swords in their hands will continue and even spread to
other parts of society, and may do so without reason or pretext.
All Indonesians, regardless of what group they belong to, should consider
the killing of Ahmadis in Banten an emergency beacon, because such extremely
discriminatory treatment could also happen to them in a different form or at a
different time. What if other religions also had similarly violent responses to
different sects or religions just because they differed from the mainstream?
But, is this state terrorism? The Religious Affairs Ministry officially
declared Ahmadiyah defiant of Islam and urged Ahmadis to repent. Yet the
government was quick to criticize the killings on Sunday in Pandeglang, Banten.
Every time Ahmadiyah followers are harassed or expelled from areas the
government routinely expresses its regret and vows to conduct a thorough
investigation.
If state officials are honest enough to listen to their own consciences,
then they will admit that state-supported discrimination has been developing
rapidly in this country.
We would like to remind President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, as the head
of state, of his constitutional obligation to protect all Indonesian citizens
regardless of their faith, ethnicity or ideology, and to ensure equal treatment
for all the shareholders and stakeholders in this nation.
We strongly defend the right of Ahmadiyah to exist, not because we share
or agree with their ideology, but purely because our Constitution guarantees
freedom of religion and freedom of expression. The state should not allow the
prosecution and criminalization of citizens just because of their personal
beliefs.
To be honest, there is little hope the President will be determined
enough to say "enough is enough" to those who attempt to impose street justice.
The President, his ministers and other state officials will certainly defend
their "do nothing" position on minorities.
Hundreds of churches have been forced to close or were burned down in
this country. But, it is just a matter of time before a similar thing happens
in other areas where Islam is a minority religion.
Mosques will not be allowed to open or Muslims will find it difficult to
practice their faith. The majority - not just in terms of religious belief -
will force the minority to follow their ways or else face brutal treatment.
But, we should also remember what history has shown us. The more minority
groups are oppressed, the more creative they will become to ensure their
survival. Oppression can often be a blessing in disguise for those who are
hunted down because they are different from people who think they command
absolute truths. It is not difficult to find examples like this in our world.
It is distressing that Ahmadis have had to face state-sponsored terrorism
just because their personal faith is not recognized by the state. And, what is
even more tragic, our head of state is reluctant to carry out his
constitutional obligation to protect the country's citizens as he vowed to do
in his oath of office.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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