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Indonesia: A great deal of homework on religious freedom for the newly inaugurated Bekasi regent
An open letter from the Asian Human Rights Commission - May 21, 2012
Dr. Hj. Neneng Hasanah Yasin
Regent of Bekasi
Komp. Perkantoran Pemerintah
Bekasi
Desa Sukamahi, Kec. Cikarang
Pusat
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 8997 0128, 8997
0129
Fax: +62 21 8997 0064
Email: diskominfo@bekasikab.go.id
Dear Dr. Yasin,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (the AHRC) congratulates you on being recently inaugurated as the new Regent of Bekasi. We are writing this letter to bring your attention to the issue of freedom of religion in Bekasi, which the previous Regent and local authorities failed to take act on in accordance with the law and human rights principles.
As you are aware, there is an ongoing conflict between the residents of Jejalen Jaya village and the congregation of the Batak Protestant Church (HKBP) Filadelfia. Jejalen Jaya villagers refuse the presence of a church in their area and repeatedly commit intimidations and threats against the members of the congregation who want to conduct a service of worship on a piece of land in the village. Last Sunday, May 20, 2012, for instance, it is reported that the villagers did not only block the road where the congregation was supposed to conduct their Sunday service on but also threw stones, urine, water bottles and spoiled eggs at the congregation. The villagers also expressed hatred by shouting several racist comments at the congregation members.
Such intimidation, attacks and threats are nothing new for the congregation of HKBP Filadelfia. Previously, the leader of the congregation, Reverend Palti Panjaitan, was also the target of death threats addressed by a Jejalen Jaya villager, Aziz. The Reverend submitted a complaint to the police, yet no investigation was conducted.
The AHRC regrets the fact that Bekasi local authorities have not taken adequate measures in accordance with the law and human rights to deal with this matter. In fact, we regret that Bekasi local government has contributed to the problem by allowing the conflict to continue. The former Regent, Mr. Sa'duddin, refused to issue a permit for HKBP Filadelfia to build the church on a land which the congregation has lawfully bought. Instead, he issued a decree ordering HKBP Filadelfia to stop the construction of the church. The former Regent of Bekasi also failed to respect the judgments delivered by the Administrative and the Supreme Court which upheld that HKBP Filadelfia has the right to build a church and to conduct service of worship on the land in question.
We sincerely hope that you as the new Regent will be able to bring about changes and deal with this matter in accordance with the law and human rights. You and your administration have the responsibility to uphold laws, including the judgments of the Administrative and the Supreme Court. We call on you to show leadership on this issue by taking the following measures:
Yours sincerely,
Wong Kai Shing
Executive Director
Asian Human Rights Commission,
Hong Kong
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