INDONESIA
Tempo-Feb 21
The attack on the Saint Lidwina Church in Sleman reinforces the perception that Yogyakarta is becoming increasingly intolerant. As a place where people from diverse cultural backgrounds and faiths live together, Yogyakarta is facing a serious crisis.
Before the attack on the church, intolerant groups in the region had already carried out a number of assaults on people from other religious groups. Hard-line groups have halted the building of churches, disbanded worshippers, banned discussions, stopped film screenings, opposed volunteer work and vandalized graves.
Several surveys by the non-profit Wahid Institute-now the Wahid Foundation-have found Yogyakarta to be an intolerant city. In 2014, it was ranked as the second least tolerant city in Indonesia. Of 154 violations of freedom of religion, 21 took place in the college city. Last year, an investigation by the Setara Institute and the Presidential Pancasila Working Unit also placed Yogyakarta among the 10 least tolerant cities.
The attack on the Saint Lidwina Church has not only worried the people of Yogyakarta. The incident happened amid attacks on religious figures in various locations. In Bandung, the caretaker of a pesantren (Islamic boarding school) and a member of an Islamic organization was attacked; one person was killed. In Tangerang, Banten, a young monk was verbally abused and forced to apologize for holding a joint religious event in his home.
Many people do not believe that these events are simply a coincidence. Speculations are growing, with some trying to identify the “mastermind” behind the attacks. To put an end to wild speculations that may end in horizontal conflict, the authorities must take resolute action against those responsible and uncover their motives.
The attack on the Saint Lidwina Church and on religious figures indicate that tolerance among the people is under threat. Our respect for differences that have kept the country together is also at stake.
Restoring broken social relationships is a pressing need. The sympathetic action of followers of different religions when they came together to clean up the Saint Lidwina church in Yogyakarta deserves appreciation. Such acts, should they continue, would give a sense of security to minority groups who have been victimized. No less important, actions that demonstrate mutual respect will send a signal of opposition to intolerant groups.
But public initiatives alone are not enough. The nation’s leaders, at all levels, must take firm action and refuse to compromise with intolerant groups. Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X should not hesitate to lead his people in declaring “war” on all forms of intolerance.
A firm stance from the Sultan would be opposed by intolerant groups, but with all his influence and authority, the Sultan need not fear. After all, in any society, intolerant extremist groups are a minority.
The internal family concern of preparing a successor to the sultanate should not turn the Sultan into a hostage who must support intolerant groups outside the palace. Remember, the Yogyakarta people’s tradition of “living in harmony” was the fruit of tolerance. Without swift action in dealing with the crisis of intolerance, the city would only move further away from its original values.
(First published in Tempo – https://en.tempo.co/read/news/2018/02/21/314915923/Bring-Back-the-Old-Yogya)
