Member Of Commission III Of The House Of Representatives Condemns The Dissolution Of Christian Rectrets In Sukabumi

Member of Commission III of the House of Representatives, Sarifudin Sudding, condemned the disbandment of Christian worship by a group of local residents in Sukabumi, West Java.

He emphasized that the state must not be defeated by pressure from any group in guaranteeing the constitutional rights of its citizens to worship. "This is not just a matter of social disharmony, this concerns the certainty of the state's law and courage in protecting the human rights of its people. It needs to be emphasized again for all parties, worship is the constitutional right of every citizen," said Sarifudin Sudding, Wednesday, July 2.

Sudding reminded that intolerance is very contrary to the principles of the Indonesian state based on Pancasila, let alone accompanied by criminal acts such as the destruction of personal facilities to threats and intimidation.

"When the legitimate worship is dissolved by group pressure, the injured are not only religious minorities, but the principles of justice and the rule of law itself," he said.

As a member of the House of Representatives commission in charge of law and security enforcement, Sudding emphasized that the right to freedom of religion and worship is guaranteed by the 1945 Constitution and cannot be canceled by the majority opinion or local pressure.

"Dissolution of worship that is not based on legal decisions or administratively valid reasons must be categorized as a form of violation of the law and can be subject to criminal sanctions," explained Sudding.

"Including articles related to unpleasant acts, hate speech, or religious-based discrimination," continued the member of the PAN faction of the DPR.

The incident of intolerance in Sukabumi itself began when children and adolescents from churches in South Tangerang came to the villa to take part in a retreat during the school holidays. When they carried out a reflective program, suddenly a number of residents came and forcibly dispersed the event on the grounds that the shelter or villa did not have a permit as a place of worship.

Sudding also asked the government to facilitate children and adolescents participating in the retreat, especially those who were traumatized by seeing acts of violence and anarchism.

"Make sure these children who are victims of mental violence get protection from the state. If necessary, provide trauma healing facilities," said Sudding.

Sudding also appreciated the West Java Regional Police for naming seven suspects in the case of the destruction of houses in Sukabumi. The police are currently developing the case and will impose sanctions on the parties involved.

"Investigate and take firm action against violations due to intolerance so that incidents like this do not repeat themselves and become a bad precedent in the future that can disrupt the stability of security and harmony of social life in Indonesia," concluded Sudding.

A shelter or villa in Cidahu, Sukabumi, West Java, was damaged by a number of residents when a group of Christian children and teenagers were undergoing a retreat on Friday, June 27. The video of the disbandment of Christian worship went viral on social media.

The house, which is known to belong to Maria Veronica Ninna in Tangkil Village, was badly damaged.

Starting from window windows in almost all rooms, flower pots in the park and in front of the house, two gazebo units in the back yard of the house, bathrooms at the back of the house, the gate of the house, to a motorbike that was pushed by residents into the river.

The General Secretary of the Gamki DPP, Alan Christian Singkali, even said that there was a forced retrieval of religious symbols, namely crosses, which then hurt the inner body of Christians and damaged the value of tolerance that became the foundation of the nation.