The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) condemned on Saturday Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi's suggestion that the city administration should bow to the demands of hard-liners and transfer a Christian ward chief to a different position because of her religion.
Natalius Pigai, commissioner of Komnas HAM, told Indonesian news portal Suara Pembaruan that the Jakarta government made the right decision in defending ward chief Susan Jasmine Zulkifli's from her detractors.
"We want the Home Affairs Minister to support consistently the policy of placing urban ward chiefs [who have been appointed] in a constitutional way," Natalius said. "The Home Affairs Minister should not bow down to the intolerant group."
Gamawan told the Jakarta Globe on Thursday that Jakarta governor Joko Widodo should place "the right man in the right place" and the "right person in the right job." In an interview with SCTV the day prior, Gamawan said that Susan should be placed in a non-Muslim area, instead of in Lenteng Agung, her current ward.
Some residents have been staging protests against Susan's appointment, hopping to have her replaced by a Muslim chief. One protestor, named Ruslan, told Indonesian news portal Detik.com that Susan had violated Islamic teachings by greeting her constituents with the words "good morning, selamat pagi, bonjour," rather than with an Arabic greeting.
Susan told Indonesian news portal Kompas.com that she would not step down, Governor Joko Widodo has expressed his unequivocal support for her and Deputy Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama said that Gamawan should "learn the constitution."
Joko appointed Susan to the office of ward chief in July after she passed a series of tests, including a written exam, a psychological examination and an interview.
Natalius said that if the Home Affairs Minister or any other member of the government gives in to pressure from intolerant groups, it might provoke more demands, which could disturb the harmony of the Indonesian people.
"A non-Muslim working in a leadership position in a majority Muslim society is the consequence of a pluralist nation like Indonesia," Natalius said.