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Jakarta: Some of NGOs that are members of the Human Rights Working Group reported the government's joint decree banning Ahmadiyah to the UN Human Rights' Council at its 8th plenary meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, yesterday (10/6).

According to the NGOs, the joint-decree shows the government’s inconsistency in enforcing human rights principles regarding religious tolerance and rejection of violence.

The working group's coordinator, Rafendi Djamin, said that special attention was being paid by the UN committee for anti-racial discrimination.

This committee is questioning an Indonesian government policy that is intolerant and discriminative towards one religious group.

“Purposely or not, the Indonesian government has acted in a discriminative manner in the name of religious freedom,” said Choirul, the working group's spokesperson.

The Indonesian government’s delegation, led by the Indonesian ambassador to Switzerland, I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja, explained that the joint decree was not meant to interfere with religious freedom.

“It is to safeguard harmony between religious groups and protect Ahmadiya followers,” said Wesaka.

Human Rights Director from the Foreign Affairs Department, Wiwik Setyawati, said that the UN council for Human Rights issue has been asking about Ahmadiyah for a long time.

The Human Rights Working Group reported various acts of violence related to religious issues in Indonesia, including the Ahmadiyah case since 2000.

“The government has not been serious or consistent about solving it,” said Choirul Anam.

In Jakarta, human rights activists protested against the joint decree.

Asmara Nababan, executive director of the Center for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (Demos) said the joint decree proves that the government is confused about solving the conflict between Ahmadiyah followers and anti-Ahmadiyah groups.

“The government knows that dissolving Ahmadiyah is a mistake. But the joint decree has been issued to please the anti-Ahmadiyah groups,” he said.

Usman Hamid, Coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons & Victims of Violence (Kontras), said that the joint decree did not have any relevant legal foundation.

State Decree No. 1/PNPS/1965 regarding the Prevention, Mistreating, and Violating of Religions, which was used by the government to issue the joint decree, about, is not relevant with the current situation.

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