Extremists Attack Peaceful Demonstrators in Jakarta, Indonesia; A Statement from Robert L. Salas with Information from Anand Krishna, Anand Ashram Foundation, Indonesia, a United Nations NGO

JAKARTA, Indonesia, July 23 Robert-Salas-statemnt


JAKARTA, Indonesia, July 23 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 1, at the National
Monument in the central district of Jakarta, Indonesia, an event took place
that was little noticed by the world press but could have major implications
for world politics and the international "War on Terror." During a peaceful
rally by dozens of organizations representing people from various religions in
celebration of Pancasila, the Indonesian concept of embracing all religious
beliefs in their society, the crowd was attacked by a mob of some 200
club-wielding Islamic extremists. As a result of this attack, dozens of
demonstrators were injured, some seriously injured. The attackers are
considered to be members of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), one of a growing
number of extremist groups who are now resorting to violent means in their
attempt to institute a radical form of Islam in the country to the exclusion
of other religions.


There are some disturbing facts surrounding this violence. First, the
attackers seemed to be allowed to organize themselves with their weapons in
plain view of the police who had been assigned for crowd control. Second,
there were only a few of the attackers who were arrested who are currently
facing prosecution. In addition, two government Ministers have announced their
support for some of the attackers and have called for their immediate release
without further investigation. This stance stems from the fact that there was
a recent joint ministerial decree by the Home Minister, the Minister of
Religious Affairs, and the Attorney General which permits criminal prosecution
for "spreading interpretations and activities which deviate from the principal
teachings of Islam." Apparently, that decree accommodates the use of mob
vigilante violence, as demonstrated by this event.


Understandably, the June 1 incident has come to the attention and the
concern of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).
The USCIRF is an official U.S. Commission associated with the U.S. State
Department and provides policy recommendations to the President, Secretary of
State and the Congress. On June 11, the USCIRF issued a recommendation that
calls on the U.S. government to urge President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to
reverse the ministerial decree and prosecute anyone using violence to
intimidate any religious minority in Indonesia.


These recent events have major implications because Indonesia is a country
of nearly 300 million people, most of whom practice the Islamic faith. It has
become a prime target for Islamic extremists. If they were to gain a strong
foothold in Indonesia, as they seem to be attempting, the battle against such
extremists worldwide would become exponentially more difficult.



For further information, contact: Mr. Anand Krishna at
ashram@anandkrishna.org in Indonesia or Mr. Robert Salas at rsalas@ojai.net in
the U.S.




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SOURCE  Robert L. Salas