VI of X: From Indonesia to Mdm. Mary Robinson (ii)

The State does not give protection for the followers of certain religions to be of that particular religion, to worship according to their religion, nor to have places of worship. Destruction, looting, even the burning of holy places occur time and time again. Those cases remain unsolved to this day. More than five hundred churches have fallen victim to such atrocities and lately also mosques and other places of worship. These processes were carried out neatly and professionally. The military is always passively involved by allowing these incidents to occur. In the last year there has been strong indication that the military actively participated in the attack towards civilians based on their religion. Thousands of people died and many thousands were forced to seek refuge.

Those who oppose the government were stigmatized as PKI/Communists, and hence "godless" people. That stigma remains strong to this day, and those who carry that stigma have been excluded from the society and unable to neither receive nor exercise their civilian rights.

Stigma as "dukun santet" to certain people in the society which have triggered mass slaughter by people who believe in mystics or by an unidentifiable group of people who professionally murder many. It is unclear what the selection criteria for the victims of this tremendous act of terror were.

Madame Chairperson, The politics of segregation of the former government remains a tangible, untouched problem for the society. We therefore urge the UN High Commission for Human Rights to pressure the Indonesian government:

§ To arrest and prosecute all, both civilians and the military, which have been involved in religious and/or racial atrocities and ensure that they receive a just sentence.

§ To stop all forms of State and military intervention in religious affairs, including the abolition of all enactment's and regulations which restrict any person's relationship with his or her God and to ensure the civil rights of all its citizens regardless of their religion or belief.

Thank you.

By Ester I. Jusuf

Chairperson of Solidarity for the Motherland and Nation-Indonesia

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