Looking at the chronology of the attack on the Huria Kristen Indonesia (HKI) church on 13/10 and the threats against dozens of other churches that occurred in Aceh Singkil, it is a serious human rights violation initiated by the state, represented by the Regent of Aceh Singkil, Sapriadi. The raid by thousands of people was carried out with the blessing and based on the decision of Regent Sapriadi, supported by other regional officials, to dismantle churches, which he claimed was based on an agreement made in 1979. Actually, besides this agreement, there is the Aceh Governor Regulation (Pergub) 25/2007 concerning Guidelines for the Establishment of Houses of Worship, the content of which is highly discriminatory and was later used as a pretext for the attack. For the same reason, in May 2012, 20 places of worship in Singkil were also closed by residents.
Whatever the arguments of the regional officials, attacks on places of worship are a form of human rights violation and a violation of citizens’ constitutional rights. The legal products that became the basis for the attack are also a form of human rights violation (violation by rule) because they contain discriminatory content and contradict the Law and the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia.
SETARA Institute strongly condemns the incident of attacks on places of worship. SETARA Institute expresses its condolences on the death of 1 resident and those injured due to the attack. SETARA Institute regrets the police institution which actually submitted to mass anarchism. The National Police (Polri) cannot use a lack of personnel as an excuse, because news of this attack had circulated the day before. The failure of the police apparatus demands accountability. The Chief of National Police (Kapolri) must ensure sanctions for the Aceh Regional Police Chief (Kapolda) and the Aceh Singkil Resort Police Chief (Kapolres) who were negligent in carrying out their duties to protect citizens. SETARA Institute reminds that the incident in Aceh Singkil was not a clash as stated by the Chief of National Police, but an attack by residents based on the incitement of regional government organizers and based on the decision of a Regent.
SETARA Institute concludes that the recurrence of attacks on places of worship in Aceh is due to the failure of Zaini Abdullah’s leadership in managing diversity in Aceh. The politics of uniformity in the name of the majority and Islam has justified various acts of violence in Aceh, including attacks on places of worship.
Contact Person: Ismail Hasani, Director of Research at SETARA Institute & Lecturer in Constitutional Law at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta: 08111884787