Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding a vigilante group sealing off the Santa Clara Church in Bekasi, West Java province, Indonesia. Despite the congregation having fulfilled all legal requirements to build a Church, the vigilante group has demanded the Bekasi Mayor cancel the Church’s official permit. The police have taken no action against the vigilantes, leaving the Santa Clara congregants in fear and uncertainty.
CASE NARRATIVE:
On 7 March 2016, the Santa Clara church was established on 5,000 m2 of land in Harapan Baru, Bekasi city. After the establishment of the Church, intolerant vigilantes, who call themselves the Islamic Forum Community (FUI), demanded the Bekasi Mayor to cancel the permit given to the Church. The group declared that the Church is established in North Bekasi city, where the majority of the community is Muslim, and where Islamic Boarding Schools (pesantren) also exist. The vigilantes thus destroyed the signboard of the church and sealed off the Church in front of the North Bekasi police commander (Kapolsek).
Earlier, the Bekasi city mayor emphasized that he will not annul the permit given to the Church, which has fulfilled all legal requirements. The minister of religion also supported the mayor’s decision.
Despite this, law enforcement agencies have failed to protect the Santa Clara Church congregants; in fact, it seems the agencies have no will or policy to enforce the law against vigilantes. As a result, the Church congregation lives under pressure and intimidation. The FUI also accused that the Bekasi city officials falsified local community identity cards, which are one of the requirements to issue a permit. The accusation cannot be proved as the local community voluntary gave their identity cards to the Bekasi mayor in order to issue permit to the Church.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
In the last decade, the existent of intolerant vigilante groups has become a serious problem in Indonesia. More importantly, the country’s law enforcement does not seem to be willing or committed to enforcing the law against such groups, despite their actions being in violation of the right to freedom of religion and belief guaranteed in the 1945 Indonesian Constitution. Article 29, Paragraph 2 requires the State to “ensure the freedom of every citizen to choose their own religion and to worship according to their religion and belief itself”.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the authorities listed below, asking them to ensure that the police take a strong stance against the vigilantes, and ensure that the government protects the Santa Clara congregation’s right to practice their religion.
The AHRC will also be writing a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Freedom of religion or belief calling for his intervention into this matter.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ………………..,
INDONESIA: Vigilante group seals off Santa Clara church and demands cancellation of its permit
Name of victims: Congregations of Santa Clara Church, Bekasi, West Java province
Names of alleged perpetrators: Anti-Tolerant Mass (Forum Umat Islam)
Date of incident: March 2016
Place of incident: North Bekasi, Bekasi City, West Java province
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding a vigilante group sealing off the Santa Clara Church in Bekasi, West Java province, Indonesia. Despite the congregation having fulfilled all legal requirements to build a Church, the vigilante group has demanded the Bekasi Mayor cancel the Church’s official permit. The police have taken no action against the vigilantes, leaving the Santa Clara congregants in fear and uncertainty.
On 7 March 2016, the Santa Clara church was established on 5,000 m2 of land in Harapan Baru, Bekasi city. After the establishment of the Church, intolerant vigilantes, who call themselves the Islamic Forum Community (FUI), demanded the Bekasi Mayor to cancel the permit given to the Church. The group declared that the Church is established in North Bekasi city, where the majority of the community is Muslim, and where Islamic Boarding Schools (pesantren) also exist. The vigilantes thus destroyed the signboard of the church and sealed off the Church in front of the North Bekasi police commander (Kapolsek).
Earlier, the Bekasi city mayor emphasized that he will not annul the permit given to the Church, which has fulfilled all legal requirements. The minister of religion also supported the mayor’s decision.
Despite this, law enforcement agencies have failed to protect the Santa Clara Church congregants; in fact, it seems the agencies have no will or policy to enforce the law against vigilantes. As a result, the Church congregation lives under pressure and intimidation. The FUI also accused that the Bekasi city officials falsified local community identity cards, which are one of the requirements to issue a permit. The accusation cannot be proved as the local community voluntary gave their identity cards to the Bekasi mayor in order to issue permit to the Church.
Therefore, I respectfully request you to ensure that law enforcement agencies, in particular the police, take a strong stance against the vigilante group. Moreover, I also call upon you to ensure that the government guarantees protection to the Santa Clara congregation to practice their religion.
Furthermore, the government should revise the law on the establishment of the worship place without any discrimination among the various religions and beliefs that exist in Indonesia.
I look forward to your prompt action in this matter.
Yours Sincerely,
……………….
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
- Mr. Joko Widodo
President of the Republic of Indonesia
Jl. Veteran No. 16
Jakarta Pusat
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 3458 595
Fax: +62 21 3484 4759
E-mail: webmaster@setneg.go.id
2. Mr. Yasonna Laoly
Minister of Law and Human Rights
Jl. HR Rasuna Said Kav. 6–7
Kuningan, Jakarta 12940
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 525 3006, 525 3889
Fax: +62 21 525 3095
3. Dr. Mualimin Abdi SH., MH
Director General of Human Rights
Office of the Director General of Human Rights
Jl. HR Rasuna Said Kav. 6–7
Kuningan, Jakarta 12940
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 5253006
Fax: +62 21 5253095
4. General Badroedin Haiti
Chief of National Police (KAPOLRI)
Jl. Trunojoyo No. 3 Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta Selatan 12110
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 384 8537, 726 0306
Fax: +62 21 7220 669
E-mail: info@polri.go.id
5. Mr. Luhut Binsar Panjaitan
Chairperson National Police Commission
Jl. Tirtayasa VII No. 20
Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta Selatan
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 739 2315
Fax: +62 21 739 2352
E-mail: secretariat@kompolnas.go.id, skm@kompolnas.go.id
6. Professor. Amzulian Rifai S.H, LL.M, PhD
Chairperson of Ombudsman of Republic of Indonesia
Jl. HR. Rasuna Said Kav. C-19 Kuningan (Gedung Pengadilan TIPIKOR) Jakarta Selatan
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 52960894/95
Fax: +62 21-52960904/05
7. Dr. HM. Azis Syamsuddin, SH
Chairperson of the Commission III of The House of Representative
Ketua Komisi III DPR RI
Gedung Nusantara II DPR RI, Lt I
Jalan Jenderal Gatot Subroto, Jakarta,
INDONESIA
Telp : +62 21 -5715566, +62 21-5715569, +62 21-5715864
Fax : +62 21 5715566
8. Mr. Abdul Haris Semendawai
Chairperson of the Agency for Victims and Witness Protection
Lembaga Perlindungan Sakdi dan Korban (LPSK)
JL. Proklamasi No 56 Jakarta Pusat 10320
Tel: +62 21 31907021
Fax: +62 21 3190606 / +62 21 31927881
9. M Imdadun Rahmat
Chairperson National Human Rights Commission
Jl. Latuharhary No. 4-B
Jakarta 10310
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 392 5227-30
Fax: +62 21 392 5227
E-mail: info@komnas.go.id
10. Mr. Lukman Hakim Saifuddin
Minister of Religion
Menteri Agama
Jalan MH Thamrin No. 6 Jakarta Pusat
INDONESIA
Tel : + 62 21 381 2306
Fax: +62 21 381 1436
Email: pikda@kemenag.go.id
