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| Ahmadiyya persecution and Australian connection (File photo) Listed to Audio Report |
Source/Credit: Radioa Australia | ABC
By Karon Snowdon | March 21, 2011
The New York-based Human Rights Watch group wants a review of Australia's extensive involvement in the training of Indonesian police, following abuses against followers of the Ahmadiyah sect.
Agency consultant Andreas Harsono told Radio Australia's Connect Asia that last year the police were responsible for most human rights abuses in Indonesia.
It is alleged senior police did nothing to stop the gruesome murders of three men by Islamic fanatics in western Java on February 6, an incident captured on video.
Police including a provincial chief of police and a local commissioner were clearly shown standing by doing nothing to stop the violence.
Right
The number of provinces in Indonesia which have banned the Ahmadiyah has risen to 16, despite the Indonesian constitution conferring the right of religious freedom on all citizens.
Twelve people, including one Ahmadi were ultimately arrested.
But it can take 60 days to lay charges.
Mr Harsono says while three senior police have been suspended, he has little faith in a proper investigation of their involvement or inaction.
"Human Rights Watch wants the Indonesian police to investigate the removed -police officers and if found guilty to bring them to justice," he said.
The country's Human Rights Commission is now investigating.
The consultant commented: "They are trying their best but they cannot charge people."
Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono condemned the attack. His Vice-President Boediono said during a recent visit to Australia both he and the president had watched the video.
He told Radio Australia the footage was shocking but said the police investigation must run its course.
The 300,000 Indonesian Ahmadis are considered heretical by some Muslims because they believe Mohammed was not the last prophet.
Human rights groups claim the escalating violence against them is encouraged by the 2008 national law forbidding the propagation of the Ahmadiyah faith.
Focus
They say the law should be repealed.
Mr Harsomo said the focus on counter-terrorism by the Australian Federal Police in the past is understandable. But it should now extend its cooperation and training to include tackling violence against minorities.
"It is now important to broaden the assistance to fight against the rise of violent fundamentalism in Indonesia."
"If the Australian state is interested in fighting against terrorism, militant Islamism in Indonesia like it or not, they also have to help the Indonesian police to tackle attacks against religious minorities inside Indonesia."
Erna Ratnaningsin, chairwoman of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation, said members of the minority group are being increasingly harassed to renounce their faith.
"Now not only the Islamic fundamentalist organisations are intimidating the Ahmadiyah but because of this regulation, now the local government and also the police and the military."
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