RI delegation against U.S. bill on religion

RI delegation against U.S. bill on religion

JAKARTA (JP): An Indonesian delegation of religious leaders
led by Amien Rais met with members of the United States Congress
Tuesday and spoke against the proposed Wolf-Spectre bill on
freedom from religious persecution.

Amien, chairman of the 28-million-strong Muhammadiyah Moslem
organization, secretary-general of the Communion of Indonesian
Churches J.M. Pattiasina and S.A.E. Nababan, who is a moderator
of the World Council of Churches, told the chairman of the
Congress Foreign Relations Committee, Benjamin Gillman, and five
other members that the bill would be unfavorable to the
international community if passed.

The legislation, proposed by Congressman Frank Wolf of
Virginia and Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, stipulates
that the U.S. government could impose economic sanctions on
countries which have poor human rights records and do not allow
freedom of religion.

"The bill, if enacted, will make the United States the police
for legal and religious affairs in the world," Amien said as
quoted by Antara in Washington yesterday.

Amien argued that the U.S. has tended to be partial in its
scrutiny of sanctioning human rights practices in different parts
of the world.

"The U.S. government tends to remain silent if rights
violations occurs in Israel and Serbia, but acts harshly if cases
occur in Arab countries," he said.

Amien, Pattiasina and Nababan are in Washington on an
invitation from the National Council of Churches in the United
States (NCC). The Council is opposing the bill.

Amien said he was satisfied that he eventually could testify
before Congress and defend Indonesia's human rights and religious
policies.

"Although I do not know the results of the deliberation of the
bill, I'm glad that I fulfilled my moral and intellectual
obligation as a citizen of a country which is under scrutiny in
the United States," he said.

He added that the two-hour discussion was held in an amiable
and fair atmosphere. "We honestly and freely discussed both
positive and negative aspects of the bill," he said.

The enactment of the bill, according to Amien, would not be an
easy task as it would need the approval of a majority of the
Congressional Commission.

"Even if it is later enacted into law, the U.S. President has
the power of veto to cancel it," he said.

President Clinton has urged 60 Christian leaders Monday to
revoke their support for the bill. (imn)