Ian Dulkowski – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono received in New York on Thursday evening the World Statesman Award from a US interfaith organization for his role in promoting religious tolerance and freedom of worship in Indonesia.

Yudhoyono has been widely criticized by human rights organization over his decision to receive the award from the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, citing cases of religious intolerance in Indonesia, such as the shuttering of the GKI Yasmin and HKBP Filadelfia churches and the attacks on Ahmadiyah members and their mosques.

East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN), meanwhile, organized a peaceful demonstration against the award outside The Pierre hotel in New York. Photos of protesters in NY began circulating on Twitter with the hashtags #SBYNoAward and #SBYNoStatesman.

Jewish rabbi and religion professor at Boston University Hillel Levine participated in the demonstration and criticized the awards ceremony, saying "[the organizers] did this to bring people to raise money."

In a video recorded by former Indonesian journalist Fitri Mohan in New York, Levine said, "I think it's a silly award... The president has his accomplishments, but at the same time he [has not fulfilled] basic human rights and he's not done as much as he could do."

Rumors also have it that the ACF struggled to fill seats for Yudhoyono's award ceremony as several Indonesians in New York have been offered cash to attend.

An Indonesian living in New York, Abdul Muchtar posted on his Facebook page about the offer: "Disgusting! I was approached to support SBY's award ceremony in New York. I was offered US$100 – plus return transport and lunch and dinner treats.

Apparently, my friends in NY, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Virginia, DC and Maryland were also approached with similar offers."