RI delegation against U.S. bill on religion<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): An Indonesian delegation of religious leaders
\nled by Amien Rais met with members of the United States Congress
\nTuesday and spoke against the proposed Wolf-Spectre bill on
\nfreedom from religious persecution.<\/p>\n
Amien, chairman of the 28-million-strong Muhammadiyah Moslem
\norganization, secretary-general of the Communion of Indonesian
\nChurches J.M. Pattiasina and S.A.E. Nababan, who is a moderator
\nof the World Council of Churches, told the chairman of the
\nCongress Foreign Relations Committee, Benjamin Gillman, and five
\nother members that the bill would be unfavorable to the
\ninternational community if passed.<\/p>\n
The legislation, proposed by Congressman Frank Wolf of
\nVirginia and Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, stipulates
\nthat the U.S. government could impose economic sanctions on
\ncountries which have poor human rights records and do not allow
\nfreedom of religion.<\/p>\n
\"The bill, if enacted, will make the United States the police
\nfor legal and religious affairs in the world,\" Amien said as
\nquoted by Antara in Washington yesterday.<\/p>\n
Amien argued that the U.S. has tended to be partial in its
\nscrutiny of sanctioning human rights practices in different parts
\nof the world.<\/p>\n
\"The U.S. government tends to remain silent if rights
\nviolations occurs in Israel and Serbia, but acts harshly if cases
\noccur in Arab countries,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Amien, Pattiasina and Nababan are in Washington on an
\ninvitation from the National Council of Churches in the United
\nStates (NCC). The Council is opposing the bill.<\/p>\n
Amien said he was satisfied that he eventually could testify
\nbefore Congress and defend Indonesia's human rights and religious
\npolicies.<\/p>\n
\"Although I do not know the results of the deliberation of the
\nbill, I'm glad that I fulfilled my moral and intellectual
\nobligation as a citizen of a country which is under scrutiny in
\nthe United States,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He added that the two-hour discussion was held in an amiable
\nand fair atmosphere. \"We honestly and freely discussed both
\npositive and negative aspects of the bill,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The enactment of the bill, according to Amien, would not be an
\neasy task as it would need the approval of a majority of the
\nCongressional Commission.<\/p>\n
\"Even if it is later enacted into law, the U.S. President has
\nthe power of veto to cancel it,\" he said.<\/p>\n
President Clinton has urged 60 Christian leaders Monday to
\nrevoke their support for the bill. (imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-delegation-against-us-bill-on-religion-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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