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Minister of Home Affairs angry: Head of Catholic Church called in by Bakorstanas

Source
SiaR - February 28, 1997

Jakarta – Cardinal Julius Darmaatmadja was called in for questioning last week by Bakorstanas [Badan Koordinasi Bantuan Pemantapan Stabilitas, National Coordinating body for the maintenance of Stability] over the pre-Easter apostolic letter by the Indonesian Bishops' Conference.

On Thursday February 27, the minister of home affairs, Yogie SM issued a statement that religious leaders "do not need" to propose that their members boycott the general election.

Bakorstanas has questioned the Cardinal over the background to the letter which according to the security forces "smells of politics". According to one of the pastors involved with the letter, it does not have a political motive but is only a part of the obligation of the catholic church to issue a moral note. He also said that many of the criticisms in the letter were a result of struggles by young critical pasters.

The letter also reflected on the July 27 riots in Jakarta and other recent riots. With regard to the economy, the letter stated that development must respect human dignity and solidarity with the poor. Issues of corruption, collusion and manipulation by the civil service who use their position to enrich themselves, their family, relatives and friends was also focused on.

Unlike letters in previous years, this letter also focused on the issue of East Timor begging for a shift away from the security approach as the key to resolving the issue.

But what was most surprising and which angered the minister of home affairs was the statement "If you really do not feel represented and are sure with all your heart that your aspirations are not channeled, we can understand that you voice your responsibility and freedom by not voting, and you are not sinning if you do not vote".

Traditionally, most members of the Catholic church vote for the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI). But this choice is apparently no longer possible when the constitutional head of the PDI, Megawati Sukarnoputri has been overthrown by the government by engineering the Medan congress and being replaced by the "puppet" Suryadi.

Furthermore, a Jesuit paster Ignatius Sandyawan SJ has already been investigated by the police and will soon be tried by the Bekasi State Court, charged with protecting Peoples Democratic Party activists who are "accused" of being the masterminds behind the July 27 riots in Jakarta. Another paster, Romo Ismartono SJ has also been questioned by police in relation tot he July 27 riots.

Despite the reaction by the minister for home affairs Bakorstanas, the letter has already been read out in the churches and widely distributed in society as well as other religious organisations. In fact there is a possibility other religious institutions may suggest a similar letter.

The Indonesian catholic church has 10 million members. If they follow the letter that means that 10 million people will not vote. If this is added to by the disappointed middle class, millions of pro-Megawati supporters, the 30 million members of NU [Nahdlatul Ulama, Association of Muslim Scholars] who are disappointed with the military and ICMI's [Ikatan Cendekiawan Muslim Indonesia, Association of Muslim Intelectuals] Green Dragon Operation [an operation belived to have been launched by the military and ICMI to undermine Gus Dur's leadership and discredit NU - JB], along with students and the critical young, workers interested in politics; Golput [Golongan Putih, White movement, abstention from voting - JB] will become a real threat to the New Order regime.

[Abridged translation from SiaR - JB]

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