FPI Promises No Disruptions Over Christmas in Indonesia

Jakarta Globe, Zaky Pawas & Ulma Haryanto | December 15, 2010

Jakarta. In a surprise move, the head of the hard-line Islamic Defenders Front on Tuesday said Christians should be allowed to celebrate Christmas in peace and happiness.

Rizieq Shihab, who heads the organization better known as FPI that has been behind attacks on churches and minority sects in the past years, also gave the assurance that his followers would not disturb or disrupt Christmas celebrations.

“I think, let Christians celebrate Christmas in merriment and happiness. That is their right of worship, right of faith that should be respected by all of the Indonesian nation,” Rizieq said at the Jakarta Police headquarters.

However, he said that guarantee of peacefulness came with the conditions that the celebrations should avoid controversy.

“As in the past years, we are calling on the Indonesian Bishop’s Council and the Indonesian Church Union to celebrate Christmas according to the procedures and rules; there should nothing that invites controversy,” he said without giving details.

Rizieq said the conflict between the FPI and believers of other faiths was not over acts of worship but rather had to do with the building of houses of worship that did not follow the rules.

“I call on believers of other religions not to violate the SKB,” he said, referring to the joint ministerial decree that regulates the building of houses of worship.

The regulation demands that houses of worship be built in areas where their religion is the dominant one.

They require a host of approvals from residents and officials.

Rights activists have lashed at the decree as being discriminative and restricting the right to worship as guaranteed by the Constitution.

Rizieq acknowledged that the Constitution guaranteed the right to worship, but added: “Do not forget that the Constitution is implemented through the SKB.”

Ramlan Hutahaean, national secretary general for the Batak Christian Churches (HKBP), with which FPI has clashed, said he expected religious tolerance all the time, not only during Christmas.

He also bristled at Rizieq’s used of the word “controversial” during Christmas celebrations.

“I don’t think there’s anything controversial during Christmas. It’s a celebration of peace. From his statement it seems that he simply does not want his Christian brothers to celebrate Christmas,” he said.

“In this world we don’t live alone. We have to sit down with others who might not have the same faith. It’s the essence of living in a pluralistic society. If he can’t accept someone from a different faith, that shows the quality of his own,” Ramlan added.

Jakarta Police Spokesman Sr. Comr Baharudin Djafar said Jakarta Police Chief Insp. Gen Sutarman took the initiative to meet with the FPI at the headquarters.

“This is an important form of coordination so that we can together work for a conducive situation,” Baharudin said.

Between 10,000 and 20,000 police personnel would be deployed to safeguard churches during Christmas and New Year, he said.