Arientha Primanita – Religious tolerance groups have lambasted the government over its lack of response to the intimidation of a Christian congregation forced to hold its Christmas service out on the street in Bogor.

The incident on Saturday saw a crowd of around 100 people taunt and jeer the congregation of the GKI Taman Yasmin church as they prayed under heavy police protection. The congregation has been forced to hold services on the sidewalk since January after the Bogor administration revoked its church permit.

Bona Sigalingging, a spokesman for GKI Taman Yasmin, said the congregation felt the authorities had allowed the intimidation to occur.

"The police were out in full force on the day, with their personnel fully equipped," he said. "It felt like a show of force against us, rather than a deterrent for the protesters." He added the congregation would keep holding services on the sidewalk outside its sealed-off church.

Bona was speaking at a press conference at the Wahid Institute in Jakarta, where religious tolerance groups discussed the issue and the government's response to it.

Khoirul Anam of the Human Rights Working Group said the Bogor administration had violated the right to religious freedom and prevailing laws by sealing off the church.

He said a pending review of a court order to reopen the church in June 2009 did not require the church to remain roped off in the meantime. He urged the central government to intervene. "We shouldn't sway to small radical groups," he said. "The government must guarantee security for all citizens."

Khoirul added the government should not be afraid to suspend organized groups known to use violence against others and said more inter-religious dialogue was needed to improve public tolerance of other religions.

Syafi'i Anwar, executive director of the International Center for Islam and Pluralism, said the central government needs to treat the matter seriously, warning that neglecting it could lead to more problems. "Indonesia's democracy is progressing, but religious freedom is declining," he said.

He added the government needs to be directly involved in resolving issues of religious freedom and intolerance. "Incidents of intolerance can tarnish the nation's international image," Syafi'i said. "Besides, it's the state's obligation to protect its citizens and guarantee religious freedom."