TEMPO.CO, Yogyakarta - The Gusdurian Network Indonesia and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika National Alliance strongly criticize the attack on Saint Lidwina Church, in Sleman on Sunday, February 11.
Gusdurian National Coordinator, Alissa Wahid, said the attack was part of an increasing act of intolerance, violence, and coercion.
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“The state should not be afraid of anyone or any group that conduct violence and violated the rights,” Alissa said.
In the political year, religious sentiment is prone to be used for political purposes. “People must also be wise, not easily provoked by the hateful and hostile sentiments,” Alissa said.
Gusdurian network noted that religious intolerance and violence has increased in 2018. They said these cases did not stand alone. The period of 2018-2019 is the political year in which power is contested from the central level to all corners of Indonesia.
“Hate and hostility to other groups have been increasingly alarming, as noted by various research and surveys from various institutions in the past 3 years,” Alissa said.
Read also: Sultan of Yogyakarta Deplores Attack on Church
Agnes Dwi Rusjiyati, Coordinator of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika National Alliance (ANBTI) Yogyakarta, said the attack on Saint Lidwina Church illustrates the increased intolerance. They requested the Yogyakarta Governor, Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X to pay special attention to intolerance and violence in the name of religion.
SHINTA MAHARANI