There must not be violence under the name of religion: President

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 08/10/2010 2:10 PM

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono underlined in Jakarta on Tuesday there must not by any violence under the name of religion by a group or certain mass organizations against members of other religions.

The remark was disclosed by presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin when he was asked what was the response of the President on an incident of violence on members of HKBP church in Bekasi, West Java, on Sunday.

“There is room (for any violence under the name of religion) in this country. We are a law country. The freedom of religion is guaranteed by the law,” Julian said at the State Palace in Jakarta, quoting the President.

Yudhoyono, Julian said, has also demanded that harmony among followers of religions in this country be maintained properly. Any friction with followers of other religions should have been settled amicably, according to the kompas.com news portal.

Julian further said that Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto has also been instructed by the President to guarantee that such a violence incident will not happen again in the future.

Djoko has coordinated with his subordinates to respond to the President's order, Julian added.