Conclusion of ICF DC International Conference and Candlelight Vigil — March 4, 2011
Washington, D.C. (March 11, 2011)
The Indonesian Christian Fellowship in Washington, DC (ICF DC) gathered on March 4, 2011 to hold an international conference and candlelight vigil on religious freedom and democracy in Indonesia. The event was a response and reflection on the continuous religious persecution that have been committed against minority groups in Indonesia. The title of the conference was “Opportunities and Challenges of the 21st Century Indonesia: Democracy and Religious Freedom in the World’s Largest Muslim Country.”
NGO leaders, religious leaders, government officials, and citizens from countries around the world participated in the event and shared ideas and solutions on how Indonesia could move forward in a positive way without compromising Indonesia’s national security, economic development, and social stability.
Based on the conclusion of the conference, ICF DC aims to release the following statements to the international community and as a recommendation to the Indonesian government.
1)Â The rising level of violence against religious minorities in Indonesia undermines global democratic efforts and Indonesia’s national interests.
This trend sabotages Indonesia’s democratic development and achievements in the twenty-first century globalism, weakens Indonesia’s credibility as a nation of tolerance and justice, and undermines Indonesia’s international image as a young, vibrant, and forward-looking nation.
2) Democracy without a just and fair system is futile.
ICF DC strongly condemns the persecutors responsible for the extreme violence and attacks against the Christians and Ahmadiyah in Indonesia. In recent months, extremist groups have attacked churches and Ahmadiyah mosques. These attacks have led to personal injuries suffered by Christian individuals and to damages of Christian properties, with little to no recourse from the local authorities. In regards to the Ahmadiyah incidence, three members of this group were killed and six others injured in an attack. This religious intolerance that causes violence has signaled to the international community that the Indonesian government has failed in enforcing justice and rule of law in its own country.
3)Â The Indonesian government should take serious action toward these attacks by arresting and punishing the perpetrators, justly and rightly, based on the constitution and the written laws.
The government has been successful in promoting the country’s image internationally — in the G20 forum and in other world organizations, which include hosting this year’s East Asia Summit and ASEAN. Analysts in the conference agreed that Indonesia’s image would be enhanced even further if the government could function not only as a promoter of democracy, but also as aprotector of democracy that includes protecting religious freedom and rights of its citizens. These rights, in particular the freedom of citizens to choose one’s religious belief and the freedom of worship, has been stated in the preamble to the 1945 Constitution of Indonesia, Chapter of 29, and also in the first and second principles of Pancasila, the nation’s official philosophical foundation. The Temanggung and Ahmadiyah incident have shown that law enforcement officers and security personnel have failed to execute their 
duties and protect the minorities. ICF DC therefore urges the government to implement consistent law enforcement to ensure the security of individual freedom, peace, and social stability in Indonesia.
4) Indonesian legislature will prove to the international community its commitment in resolving this issue by passing a clear law that protects religious freedom and promotes programs that enhance tolerance and understanding among different religious groups. Some of the programs include forming a new non-partisan, inter-religious governmental commission that conducts extensive research on the development of religions in Indonesia; that formulates recommendations directly to the central government and legislature on how religious development and conflict could be addressed objectively and justly; and that provides consultation services to religious groups and schools around the country.
5)Â Last but not least, ICD DC also expresses deepest grievances to the victims of recent and past religious persecutions in Indonesia, especially to the victims of Ahmadiyah and Temanggung incidence and of other persecutions that ICD DC is unaware of.
You are free to disseminate this press release to your own community groups and/or denomination to make sure they are aware of our efforts in bringing religious and human rights freedom a reality in Indonesia. For more information, you may contact infoicfdc@gmail.com
Indonesian Christian Fellowship in Washington, DC (ICF DC) is a non-denominational fellowship of Indonesian Christians residing in Washington, DC area.
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