'Intolerance in Yogyakarta is a tremendous setback'

Jakarta, NU Online
Cases of ethnic, racial and religion based violence and intolerance in Yogyakarta recently are a tremendous setback. Whereas Yogyakarta is the region that could be called a melting pot that embodies the reality of pluralism in Indonesia.<>

Chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Slamet Effendi Yusuf made the remarks on the sidelines of an interview with NU Online here on Wednesday (4/5).

He said that Yogyakarta had so far become an example of a  heterogeneous society that becomes more homogeneous, in which the different elements could "melt together" into a harmonious whole with a common culture.

"That's why, exclusivity should not be allowed to develop in the city of culture and education like Yogyakarta," he said.

As reported that armed hard-liners and local residents attacked a Pentecostal church in Sleman regency.

Local residents, along with members of the Islamic Jihad Front (FJI) and the Islamic People’s Forum (FUI), were allegedly involved in the attack after learning that the church had been reopened despite having no license as a place of worship.

Police and military personnel were present during the attack but did not prevent the protesters from throwing stones through the church’s windows, according to witnesses.

“The conditions were unconducive; the police could not take action as it would have risked the safety of the residents there,” Anny reasoned.

No one was injured in the attack.

Two days before the incident, around 15 unidentified individuals attacked a group of Catholics who were praying at a house in Ngaglik, Sleman.

The police have arrested a suspect, identified as only KH, who lived near the targeted house. The police have also identified other suspects.

Anny said the violence in Ngaglik was not linked to religion.

“It was spontaneous. Local residents were annoyed that the road was blocked by motorcycles parked by members of the rosary group,” Anny emphasized.

However, the Association of Catholic Scholars (ISKA) suggested that both attacks were acts of sectarian violence.

“The government must take firm action to address religious intolerance violence in Yogyakarta […] ISKA is disappointed by the police’s inability to prevent either incident,” ISKA presidium chair Muliawan Margadana said.

Similar disappointment at the police’s performance was also expressed by Yogyakarta Governor Hamengkubuwono on Monday.

In response, National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar pointed out that the police were not the sole party responsible for maintaining religious tolerance.

“Tolerance is not built by the police alone. The police are only a component tasked with ensuring public order. In relation to public behavior, other parties contribute to that,” he said.

“For instance, religious leaders, local figures and regional leaders could educate their citizens not to engage in such violence,” Boy continued.

National Police chief Gen. Sutarman urged the public not to organize collective worship in private residences on a regular basis in order to avoid sectarian conflict in the future. “Collective worship organized routinely in private residences is not allowed. It is outrageous. Friday prayers [for Muslims] or prayer meetings [for Christians] should not be held in houses,” said Sutarman.

Activists grouped under the Yogyakarta Anti-Violence Community (Makaryo) said they would report the police, Hamengkubuwono and the regents of Sleman, Gunungkidul and Bantul for being ignorant of the signs of rising sectarian violence in the province.

“For the past six months, we have raised awareness that Yogyakarta is in a state of emergency in terms of sectarian violence. The authorities are always late to respond,” said Makaryo coordinator Benny Susanto.

“We’ve recorded eight incidents of sectarian violence this year. No one has been brought to justice.”

The Sleman incidents add to the number of religious intolerance cases in Yogyakarta.

In January, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) Yogyakarta branch called on the police to freeze or disband institutions or organizations whose members were adherents of Shia Islam.

Editing by Sudarto Murtaufiq