Straits Times / Singapore July 26, 2010 Attacks on churches rising
JAKARTA - INDONESIAN human rights activists on Monday urged President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to investigate attacks on Christian churches, which they say have increased in the last two years. >From January to July, there were 28 cases of religious freedom violations by 'intolerant groups targeting Christians,' up from 17 for the whole of 2008 and 18 in 2009, the Setara Institute for Democracy and Peace said in a report. Based on reports by churches and the media, the violations - mostly by radical Muslim groups - include forced closure of churches, revocation and delays in issuing building permits, and attacks such as torching and damaging churches, the institute said. 'These incidents are a breach of law and human rights. The President and the government have been very silent on this matter and have not provided enough protection to citizens,' Setara's deputy chief Bonar Tigor Naipospos told AFP. 'The attackers have become bolder as law enforcement is weak. We can't let the incidents continue as peace in the country will be jeopardised,' he added. The attacks, which mostly took place in Jakarta and West Java province, have made Christians 'scared and anxious', said Parasian Hutasoit, spokesman for Huria Christian Protestant Batak Church Filadelfia. -- AFP -- Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community <[email protected]> Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org
