TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Despite the relentless wave of critics, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has received the World Statesman Award from the Appeal of Conscience Foundation in New York. Rabbi Arthur Schneier and former United States Foreign Secretary Henry Kissinger, handed the award to SBY.
In his released speech, SBY said that Indonesia welcomes freedom of religions. "Currently, Indonesia has over 255,000 mosques. We also have more than 13,000 Hindu temples, around 2,000 Buddhist temples, and more than 1,300 Confucianism temples," the President stated. SBY also added that Indonesia has over 61,000 churches, relatively more churches than Great Britain and Germany.
SBY also said that Indonesia ensured that all religions are allowed to live in freedom and togetherness. The President expressed the statement in response to criticism that on how hard it is for Christians to build churches, highlighting the GKI Yasmin and Filadelfia Church case.
RILIS | WD