'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