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Indonesia: Increased fears for church congregation
Amnesty International Urgent Action - October 5, 2011
The congregation of the Taman Yasmin Indonesian Christian Church in Bogor, West Java has received new threats. A radical group plan s to disrupt the congregation's weekly Sunday service on 9 October, prompting increased fears for the ir safety.
According to credible sources, large numbers of a group called the Indonesian Muslim Communication Forum (Forkami) plan to arrive at the site of Taman Yasmin Indonesian Christian Church (also known as Gereja Kristen Indonesia, GKI) this Sunday. They aim to disrupt the weekly service held by the congregation in protest against the church. The congregation has faced increased harassment and intimidation by Forkami members over the past two weeks, in an attempt to force them to leave the church site. On 2 October, several members of the congregation were attacked, despite the presence of the Municipal Administrative Police (Satpol PP). In the most recent two protests against the congregation, the Mayor of Bogor is also reported to have been present. The city administration has also cordoned off the pavement in front of the church to prevent the congregation from conducting their service. The congregation fear that they will be intimidated and attacked when they arrive for Sunday services on 9 October and that they will continue to be intimidated and attacked after this date.
The church has been closed since 2008 when, following pressure from radical Islamist groups, its building permit was revoked by the Bogor city administration and the building was sealed off. Since then the congregation have conducted weekly services on the pavement outside the church, which some local residents claim causes public disruption. This had led to protests against the congregation by the local community allegedly backed by radical Islamist groups. Despite a ruling by the Indonesian Supreme Court in December 2010 ordering the Bogor authorities to re-open the church, the Mayor of Bogor has refused to comply with it. The church has been attacked at least seven times since 2008.
Please write immediately in English, Indonesian or your own language calling on the authorities in Indonesia to:
Take adequate measures to guarantee the safety of the Taman Yasmin Indonesian Christian Church congregation, in accordance with their right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion;
Conduct prompt, independent and impartial investigations into all reports of intimidation, harassment and attacks against members of the Taman Yasmin Indonesian Christian Church and bring the perpetrators to justice in accordance with international fair trial standards;
Immediately comply with the Indonesian Supreme Court ruling and re-open the Taman Yasmin Indonesian Christian Church and take steps to ensure that all religious minorities are protected and allowed to practise their faith free from fear, intimidation and attack.
Please send appeals before 16 November 2011 to:
Mayor of Bogor
Diani Budiarto
Balaikota Bogor, Jl. Ir.
H. Juanda No 10 Bogor, West Java
Indonesia
E-mail: kominfo@kotabogor.go.id
or inspektorat@kotabogor.go.id
Salutation: Dear Diani Budiarto
Head of the Indonesian National
Police
General Timur Pradopo
Indonesian National Police
Headquarters
Jl. Trunojoyo No. 3
Jakarta Selatan
Indonesia
Fax: +62 21 722 0669
Salutation: Dear General
Timur Pradopo
And copies to:
Chairperson, Ombudsman of
the Republic of Indonesia
Danang Girindrawardana
Jl. HR. Rasuna Said Kav.
C-19 (Gedung Pengadilan TIPIKOR)
Jakarta Selatan, Indonesia
Fax: +62 21 5296 0908
E-mail: ombudsman@ombudsman.go.id
Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country.
Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.
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