Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security Djoko Suyanto said that he was unaware of the involvement of the military in activities aimed at converting Ahmadis to mainstream Islam.

"What operation? Ask them. I did not go to the field," he said Tuesday, as quoted by Tempointeraktif.com.

Human Rights Working Group has accused the TNI – the Indonesian military – of 56 violations and acts of intimidation towards Ahmadis in West Java.

A program called "Operasi Sajadah" (Prayer-mat operation) was recently launched in the area. Under the program, Muslims are encouraged to hold Friday prayers at Ahmadiyah mosques.

Djoko said that he did not see any form of intimidation in the West Java program and that the government has no right to forbid a citizen's faith. "It's firm... that is the government's position," he said.

Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali said that what the military is doing might be a persuasive approach to encouraging Ahmadis to convert. He said that TNI involvement might be part of an effort to prevent conflict.