The Jakarta Post, May 05, 2007
Resolutions on terror, faith challenges for RI: Legislators
Ridwan Max Sijabat and Rita A. Widiadana, The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua, Bali
Resolutions passed at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) assembly, which require
member-nations to counter acts of terror and ensure respect for and peaceful
coexistence with religious communities, would present a big challenge for Indonesia,
Indonesian legislators say.
Jeffrey Johannes Massie, a Prosperous Peace Party legislator, said religious freedom
was still a slogan, more so than reality, in pluralistic Indonesia. Much like China and
Vietnam, he added, Indonesia still had a bad record of abusing the rights of minority
groups wishing to practice their own religions and establish schools.
Jeffrey questioned the 2006 joint-ministerial decree, which he said went against the
1945 Constitution guaranteeing the freedom of expression, religious worship and other
human rights.
"The contentious regulation should be annulled to let all religious communities
establish their houses of worship in accordance with the 2007 spatial zoning law.
And, instead, the government should issue a regulation to annul all sharia bylaws to
ensure pluralism and a respect for all religious communities," he said.
Theo Sambuaga, chairman of Commission I for foreign affairs and defense at the
House of Representatives, asked law enforcers to take harsh action against extremist
groups that frequently perpetrate acts of violence in the name of religion.
"The law must be enforced in respect of pluralism and interfaith dialog at the national
level and must be intensified to let all religious communities accept each other," he
said.
Abdillah Toha, a National Mandate Party legislator, asked the country's two largest
Muslim organizations, Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah, to be proactive in
campaigning for moderate Islam.
"The silent majority of moderate Muslims must counter anti-pluralism acts launched
by minority hard-line groups to pursue peaceful co-existence between all religious
communities," he said.
Abdillah blamed extremism on local media, which he said has overexposed the
activities of radical groups. As an example, he said, the leader of the Indonesian
Mujahiddin Council (MMI), Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, has been more popular than President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono because of overexposure.
M. Sayed Yahyawi, an Iranian parliamentarian, said terrorism and human right issues
must be dealt with seriously and that to blame nations for causing acts of terror
without sufficient evidence was unacceptable.
Iran and Indonesia were among the four countries that worked on a draft resolution on
international cooperation to combat terrorism, its root causes and its financing,
including through cross-border funding.
Iran and Indonesia, both countries with large Muslim populations, have been
considered fertile grounds for terrorists and acts of terror. Among the resolutions
adopted by the IPU assembly was one stipulating that terrorism cannot be attributed
to any one religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group.
Attiya Inayatullah, a Pakistani parliamentarian, said a smear campaign had been
instigated worldwide against Islam over the last few years.
"We do not agree to terrorism and we do not condone any terrorist actions," said
Inayatullah, who is also the chairperson of the Foreign Relations Committee of the
Pakistani Muslim League.
Islam does not allow its followers to act violently, to kill people or to commit any
actions that hurt others, regardless of their religious or ethnic backgrounds, she said.
"Islam is a peaceful religion."
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians,
Franklin M. Drilon, called for the release of 126 parliamentarians detained in 18
countries for their fights for democracy and human rights.
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