JAKARTA (UCAN): Bishop Seno Inno Ngutra of the Diocese of Amboina, in Indonesia’s Maluku province, accused a top district official of not supporting religious groups’ effort to promote tolerance in a region that witnessed deadly inter-religious conflicts between Christians and Muslims from 1999 to 2002.
The inter-faith killed more than 6,000 people and displaced tens of thousands, forcing the government to deploy the military to restore order.
Bishop Ngutra said during a press conference on September 13, that he would sign off a no-confidence motion, on behalf of religious leaders in the province, against Brigadier General Andi Chandra As’aduddin, the acting head of West Seram district.
The bishop alleged that As’aduddin “has tarnished inter-religious tolerance with his inhumane policies and actions.”
He said, “We will write a letter of rejection against him to the Minister of Home Affairs” and send its copies to the President and the Minister of State Secretary.
Since taking office in May, As’aduddin has carried out a number of policies that have sparked uproar from religious leaders, he alleged.
The 51-year-old Bishop Ngurta said that ever since he became bishop of Amboina in April, he has made efforts to work with other religions in Maluku as well as the government.
The bishop particularly criticised As’aduddin for questioning the legitimacy of the Catholic Ecclesiastical Choir Festival [Pesparani]. The Church-sponsored event is set to be held in the district later in September and will also involve members of other faiths, to prepare for events at the provincial and national levels.
Bishop Ngutra said the event was also part of a national programme under the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
The bishop also alleged that the district head was only willing to provide 200,000,000 rupiah [$105,240] financial support for the event after public pressure.
The bishop particularly criticised As’aduddin for questioning the legitimacy of the Catholic Ecclesiastical Choir Festival [Pesparani]. The Church-sponsored event is set to be held in the district later in September and will also involve members of other faiths, to prepare for events at the provincial and national levels
Bishop Ngutra said he and other religious leaders also questioned As’aduddin’s recent attempt to forcibly recall cars that the government donated to religious leaders, citing auditing purposes.
“We are not dependent on these cars, but what the previous district head did was to provide the vehicles to help religious leaders to continue what the government desires them to do—build peace and tolerance in the community,” he said.
The bishops said that religious leaders were disappointed when they recently tried to meet As’aduddin to discuss these issues. He did not meet them, even though they had waited for hours.
Following the allegations, As’aduddin spoke to the press and denied any wrongdoing. He said that policies taken by his administration are “open to evaluation.”
Religious leaders should “be able to run their activities without the help of the local government. Assistance from the local government is to facilitate or relieve, not to fully cover all the needs” of programmes such as the Christian choir festival, he said.
As’aduddin also denied accusations of disrespecting religious tolerance, claiming that he stands “above all religious groups.”
Responding to the allegations of not meeting religious leaders he said it was “exaggerated” and stated that he cannot accept every guest, nor could his subordinates.
He also said that the recall of the cars was to control the administration of assets and if the religious leaders wanted to borrow and use them, they could submit an application.
As’aduddin is the only government official in Maluku who is also an active soldier. His appointment in May drew protests from civil society groups, because of his military background.
Government officials defended his appointment, saying that a figure with an intelligence gathering background was needed to lead the district because of its potential for conflict over boundaries in some villages.
Syarif Papaliya, an activist from the Maluku branch of the Muhammadiyah Student Association, an affiliate of Muhammadiyah, the second largest moderate Islamic organisation, said that “in principle, they chose to judge the district head’s move proportionally.”
Papaliya said, “For example, regarding controlling government assets, such as cars, I think that is a good effort. Why? Many government assets have been misused so far.”
He said that the government should have a proper dialogue with religious leaders “so that there are no misunderstandings and accusations that can disrupt harmonious relations.”
