Arientha Primanita, Jakarta – Hundreds of Christians prayed near National Monument Square in Central Jakarta on Sunday afternoon, in protest against what they say is government inaction over attacks on churchgoers and the forced closure of churches.
A spokesman for Religious Freedom Solidarity Forum, Saor Siagian, said those praying came from churches and nonprofit organizations across the capital.
They had planned to hold their prayer session outside the State Palace but were banned due to preparations for Independence Day celebrations on Tuesday.
"It is our right to demand the state guarantee our religious freedom," Saor said, adding that they were disappointed they were not able to gather in front of the palace.
The prayer protest followed a series of incidents in the Greater Jakarta area and West Java in which churches have been shut down, churchgoers terrorized and followers of a minority Islamic sect confronted by public-order officers trying to shut down their mosque.
"The state has been inconsistent in protecting its citizens," Saor said. "There are so many vigilantes let loose and allowed to behave as they want, even taking over the duties of the state authorities."
He said they were not demanding these organizations be disbanded but simply that those who violated human rights be brought to justice.
Saor was referring to hard-line groups like the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), which is facing fierce criticism following the church attacks.
FPI has consistently denied being behind the attacks on the Batak Christian Protestant Church (HKPB) of Pondok Timur Indah in Bekasi.
The HKBP's church house was sealed by authorities in June as part of an agreement between Bekasi Mayor Mochtar Muhammad and Murhali Barda, the leader of the Bekasi chapter of the FPI.
Nurkholis Hidayat, director of the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute, said attacks against churches and the Islamic minority sect Ahmadiyah had steadily increased in the past four years and the government had done nothing to stop them.
"The government does not seem to consider this a serious issue. If it continues to allow this to occur, it could result in a massive conflict," Nurkholis said.
Innayah Wulandari, the youngest daughter of the late President Abdurahman Wahid, was there to lend her support. She said that her father, better known as Gus Dur, had been renowned for pluralism and for never allowing the faiths of any Indonesian citizens to be restricted.
"I am sure if my father were still alive he would condemn any acts that violate religious freedom. That is why I am here as a representative of my family," Innayah told the Jakarta Globe.
Luspida Simajuntak, who leads the HKBP congregation that was recently attacked by hard-liners, said that earlier in the day the church had held its regular prayer service on a vacant plot in Ciketing, Bekasi, under police protection.
On Friday, Bekasi Mayor Mochtar Mohammad met Islam-based organizations and representatives of the congregation. Mochtar offered the congregation use of a municipal building but they refused.
"We had our morning service in peace. We had no trouble this time. There were no disturbances like in past weeks," Luspida said.
Luspida said they had decided to continued using the field for worship despite resistance. "It is our basic human right to pray wherever we want," she said.
She added that the congregation was very disappointed with the Bekasi municipality. "They were the ones who directed us to have our activities in our field after they sealed our church in Pondok Timur Indah," she said.
Luspida said she was not worried by possible future disturbances, saying that "God gives us strength whilst we each practice our faith."
She urged the government to open its eyes. "There is no majority nor minority when it comes to religions protected by the Constitution," Luspida said.