Jul 21, 2011
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Jul 21, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 21, 2011
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today urged U.S. Under Secretary Maria Otero to make religious freedom a priority in her discussions with government officials and civil society in Indonesia this week.
"Extremist groups, intolerance and impunity are threatening Indonesian democracy and religious freedom,” said Leonard Leo, USCIRF Chair. "How Indonesia responds to these threats will determine its future stability. We urge Under Secretary Otero to make the protection of religious freedom and pluralism a critical focus of her discussions, as it is vital to U.S. security, economic, and political interests in Indonesia.”
Ms. Otero is scheduled to meet with Indonesian government officials and civil society leaders on issues of elections, civilian security, water, human rights and youth empowerment.
Ms. Otero will join later with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Bali from July 22 to July 24, where they will participate in meetings with Indonesian government officials at the margins of the ASEAN Regional Forum.
"Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is finally saying the right things about societal violence and extremist groups and the need to prosecute those who undertake or incite violence, but there remains a gap between rhetoric and practice,” said Leo. "Does the Indonesian government have the political will or capacity to make necessary reforms? The United States should work with Indonesians committed to religious freedom, assisting government agencies and civil society groups to counter extremism, mediate sectarian conflict, protect religious minorities and women, reform the police and military, and build interfaith efforts at legal reform and public advocacy. These priorities are in the long-term interests of both our countries.”
A USCIRF delegation traveled to Indonesia in May 2010 and witnessed firsthand the vitality of Indonesia's democracy, the strength of civil society, and the depth of religious devotion. However, religious leaders and civil society representatives expressed a lack of confidence in the Indonesian government's ability to reform national laws that discriminate or encourage violence against religious minorities and women, to restrain religiously-motivated extremist groups whose influence far exceeds their size or electoral appeal, and to train police, military, and government officials to protect religious and ethnic minorities.
In its 2011 Annual Report USCIRF concluded that Indonesia's traditions of religious tolerance and pluralism are increasingly threatened. Religious minorities experience patterns of intimidation, discrimination, and societal violence often perpetuated by groups espousing intolerance and extremism under the banner of Islamic orthodoxy and that are too often tolerated by segments of the Indonesian government and police. Problematic national and provincial laws, such as a national blasphemy law and anti-Ahmadiyah decrees, compound these concerns. In addition, provincial laws restrict the rights of women and some non-Muslims and vague decrees governing the building of religious venues have lead to forced closures and destruction of property.
USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government commission. USCIRF Commissioners are appointed by the President and the leadership of both political parties in the Senate and the House of Representatives. USCIRF's principal responsibilities are to review the facts and circumstances of violations of religious freedom internationally and to make policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress.
To interview a USCIRF Commissioner, contact Tom Carter, Communications Director at [email protected], or (202) 523-3257.
Jul 8, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 8, 2011
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) congratulates the Republic of South Sudan on its independence and calls on the United States and the international community to strongly support the South in its democratization and development efforts.
"July 9, 2011 is a tremendously exciting day for the people of South Sudan and the world, marking the end of the Southern Sudanese's decades-long struggle and sacrifice for religious freedom and human rights,” said Leonard Leo, USCIRF chair.
The people of South Sudan chose independence in a January referendum mandated by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which ended more than 20 years of civil war between the North and the South. Of the more than two million killed and four million driven from their homes during the war, most were followers of traditional African religions and southern Christians who fought against the North's imposition of sharia law and for religious freedom nationwide. Hundreds of thousands of Nuba Muslims also were declared apostates and targeted in the same conflict by President Omar Hassan al-Bashir's regime. The severe nature of religious freedom violations in Sudan during the North-South civil war, led USCIRF to name Sudan the worst violator of religious freedom in the world. Since the signing of the CPA and the end of the war in 2005, religious freedom has flourished in the South, while severe violations continue in the North against both non-Muslims and non-conforming Muslims.
"The creation of South Sudan on July 9 is a tremendous achievement for American diplomacy and the work of the international community. Dedicated, bi-partisan efforts spanning the administrations of Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama and numerous sessions of Congress, as well as the tireless work of many special envoys to Sudan; Roger Winter, Senator John Danforth, Andrew Natsios, Amb. Rich Williamson, Maj. Gen. J. Scott Gration, and Amb. Princeton Lyman, were central to achieving peace and creating the new country of Southern Sudan,” said Leo.
While today marks a momentous occasion, much work remains in order to help ensure the viability of this new country, one that USCIRF hopes will respect the religious freedom and human rights of all people in the South. Due to decades of conflict and underdevelopment at the hands of Khartoum, South Sudan must grapple with serious challenges including an underdeveloped infrastructure, food insecurity, inadequate access to social services, and limited government capacity to meet needs and govern effectively. South Sudan also must confront a legacy of internal conflicts and the absence of rule of law.
"It is imperative that the United States and the international community increase its development assistance to South Sudan at this important time,” said Leo.
"The United States and the world cannot miss this opportunity to help all Sudanese citizens achieve freedom and peace. I have personally witnessed this new nation's great needs as well as its huge potential when I visited there several times as head of a USCIRF delegation. USCIRF stands with, and is ready to assist, the people of the South,” said Leo.
USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government commission. USCIRF Commissioners are appointed by the President and the leadership of both political parties in the Senate and the House of Representatives. USCIRF's principal responsibilities are to review the facts and circumstances of violations of religious freedom internationally and to make policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress.
To interview a USCIRF Commissioner, contact Thomas Carter, Communications Director at [email protected], or (202) 523-3257.