Nadya Natahadibrata and Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – Despite mounting criticism, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is expected to accept the World Statesman Award, a recognition of his work in supporting human rights and religious freedom, on May 30 in New York.

Yudhoyono's advisor for political communications, Daniel Sparingga, said on Sunday that the President was scheduled to receive the award during his working visit to the United States later this week.

Yudhoyono is expected to leave the country on Monday for a six-day working visit which includes a stop-over in Sweden. Sparingga said that the award was given due to his achievements, particularly his efforts to create a democratic society in the country.

"We acknowledge that law enforcement as well as prevention efforts on religious intolerance and conflicts have not been completely successful," Sparingga told The Jakarta Post on Sunday. "However, this award is not addressed solely to the President. The award is given to appreciate this nation's [religious] tolerance," he added.

Sparingga said that the award had seven criteria and that the President had fulfilled at least six of them, thus qualifying him for the award.

The presidential advisor said that one of the reasons Yudhoyono received the award was his promotion of peace and dialogue when dealing with conflicts in Papua and Aceh.

Sparingga also said that the President had fought against terrorism within the country and had sought to improve relations between Palestine and Israel. "The President has also actively promoted human rights, and during his tenure the country has witnessed no gross violations of human rights," he said.

As previously reported, the US-based Appeal of Conscience Foundation's (AFC) decision to honor the President has drawn criticism, including from respected Catholic priest Frans Magnis Suseno, who said that Yudhoyono had done "nothing to protect religious minorities." Since making the criticism, Magnis has been subject to personal attacks by some in Yudhoyono's inner circle.

Meanwhile on Sunday, hundreds of congregation members from the Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) Yasmin, in Bogor and the Filadelfia Batak Christian Protestant Church (HKBP) in Bekasi, both in West Java, held a service in front of the State Palace to mock the granting of the award.

The protesters ridiculed Yudhoyono by giving him the World "Statements" Award on Religious Freedom 2013. "SBY only makes statements and speeches, but takes no action," Renata Anggraeni, GKI Yasmin spokesperson said on Sunday. "Therefore, the victims have awarded him the World Statements Award, and not the World Statesman Award," she added.

Members of the two congregations have been unable to hold services as their places of worship have been shut down by local administrations.

A mock-up 1.5-meter-high trophy was symbolically presented by the congregation members to the President, it displayed the nation's coat of arms, as well as pictures of victims of religious intolerance, including members of the GKI Yasmin and HKBP Filadelfia congregations as well as Ahmadis and Shiites.

Senior researcher from the Wahid Institute Rumadi Ahmad said the AFC's plan to honor Yudhoyono was the result of political lobbying between Indonesian officials and those of the foundation.

"This award is an accomplishment for the Indonesian ambassador who managed to build a good relationship with the foundation," he said, referring to the Indonesian Ambassador to the US Dino Patti Djalal.

Rumadi also suspected that the award was meant to improve the stature of Yudhoyono on the international stage as part of his post-retirement plan. (tam)