Anti-Christian
intolerance is raising its ugly head again. Islamic fundamentalist
groups are increasingly trying to stop the construction of churches in
areas where the Catholic Church is present.
Government slowness in
reacting to such phenomena has come under fire because it effectively
adds more fuel to the flames of intolerance fanned by such groups (See
Mathias Hariyadi, “Religious intolerance rising among Indonesian
Muslims,” in AsiaNews 5 October 2010)
The most recent example of this trend involves the
Saint Mother Teresa Parish in Cikarang, some 60 kilometres east of
Jakarta.
The situation here is the more worrisome since Indonesian
authorities have shown little or no desire to intervene in the matter,
and this despite sharp criticism from inter-faith and human rights
groups.
In recent days, some provocative banners opposing
plans to build a new church in Cikarang have appeared.
“The Islamic
Group Ukuwah Islamiyah rejects any plan to construct a church in Bunda
Teresa Cikarang,” read one banner displayed in front of a local mosque
in Taman Sentosa Cikarang.
Another one on Bandung Street, in Cinere, carried the
same message but against another Christian place of worship slated for
construction only 200 metres from a local police station.
In both cases, it is clear that the lack of action by
the authorities against this kind of protests to ensure a spirit of
harmony between religions has fuelled intolerance.
Opposition to the Mother Teresa Church in Cikarang
started in September when someone began spreading rumours about the
potential “Christianisation” of the Bekasi Regency (district), a
predominantly Muslim area.
According to the rumour, a church and other buildings
would be built that together would constitute the largest Christian
centre in Asia.
Opponents to the Church charged that the latter would
become a magnet for proselytising, thus threatening the district’s
Muslim majority.
Saint Mother Teresa Parish was founded in 2004 and has
a congregation of some 6,000 members. It does not have a church
building, and has to celebrate Mass in the gym of a local Catholic
school.
In recent weeks, Bekasi Regency has seen a number of
episodes of intolerance directed at Christians from different
confessions.
SIC: AN/INT'L