'Tolerance doesn't exist in our society'

'Tolerance doesn't exist in our society'

The attack on the Indonesian Ahmadiyah Congregation (JAI) in
Parung, Bogor, earlier this month has sparked various reactions
on how to interpret freedom of religion. The Jakarta Post asked
residents their thoughts on the issue.

Eman, 35, is an employee of a company in Jl. Sudirman, Central
Jakarta. He lives in Petamburan subdistrict, Tanah Abang, also in
Central Jakarta:

Well, in this plural society, tolerance is a key in preventing
violence among different groups of people.

Unfortunately, tolerance is not well-practiced in our society.
We witness brawls between groups of people in the city, while
many people are reluctant to accept other people with different
faiths or beliefs.

I condemn the attackers of JAI, even though I myself do not
accept Ahmadiyah teachings.

In this case, I partly blame the government who did not
anticipate the attack. Ahmadiyah is not a new thing ... the local
authorities must have known that the attack would happen.

I think the government has to find JAI another place so that
they can peacefully carry out their activities.

Hana, 30, is a shop attendant in the Mangga Dua commercial
district, North Jakarta. She lives in Kebayoran Lama, South
Jakarta:

I was told by my parents that Ahmadiyah people are not part of
Islam because the congregation does not recognize Muhammad as the
last prophet.

But I do not agree that we must attack those who have
different faiths from us.

Many people do not seem to be able to respect the faith of
other people. As you know, the incident involved thousands of
people who did not agree with Ahmadiyah's teachings.

I think we need time for our society to become more tolerant.
Campaigns on tolerance must be held within families, in schools
and also in the workplace.

But for the time being, the government must prevent incidents
such as happened in Parung from occurring in other places. It
must not allow such gatherings to be organized in an area that
may spark opposition.

-- The Jakarta Post