Catholics pray for Muslims on holiday travels

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta, Sun, 08/28/2011

Thecongregation of one Catholic church is offering prayers for the safe travels ofMuslims on the road for the holiday.

“We prayfor everyone's safety - especially for those who are right now struggling toreach their hometowns to celebrate Idul Fitri,” said a priest at St.Bartholomew church in Bekasi during mass on Sunday as quoted by kompas.com.

In anannual tradition, Pope Benedict XVI is expected to offer greetings to allMuslims on the first day of Idul Fitri.

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Gay man seeking asylum: I can't return to Indonesia

CNN News, By Sarah Hoye, February 15, 2011

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Anton Tanumihardja came to the U.S. from Indonesia in 2002
• He applied for asylum because of his sexual orientation
• He faced deportation on Valentine's Day, but got a last-minute reprieve
• His attorney says his case spotlights inequalities for same-sex couples applying for asylum

Philadelphia (CNN) -- Anton Tanumihardja had his bags packed, anxious about his flight back to his home country, Indonesia. It was a trip he did not want to make after spending the past eight years in the United States.

Anton Tanumihardja has applied for asylum,
fearing persecution for his sexual orientation
in Indonesia.

He feared his absence would mean the end for his relationship with his boyfriend. In a bitter twist, he would be leaving on the night of Valentine's Day.

At the last minute came a temporary reprieve: Federal immigration officials issued a stay of deportation just three hours before his flight was to take off.

Tanumihardja, who is openly gay, has filed for political asylum, fearing persecution if he is forced to return to Indonesia. He says his homeland is not tolerant of homosexuals.

Although the order gives Tanumihardja more time in Philadelphia, it does not guarantee he can stay forever. It remains in effect until authorities decide whether to reopen his political asylum application.

Tanumihardja, 45, came to the United States in 2002 with a tourist visa from Jakarta, Indonesia. After his visa expired, he filed for political asylum and received a work permit while his case was being reviewed.

When his asylum application and subsequent appeals were denied, immigration authorities told him he had to leave on Monday.

"I got a lot of support from the people who love me and want me to stay," Tanumihardja said before breaking down into tears. "I do not expect anything in return from this country. I just want my status to be legal here."

In addition to his sexual orientation, Tanumihardja is ethnic Chinese and Catholic, making his return to Indonesia more daunting because he would be a triple minority in the predominantly Muslim country.

"Going back to my country means I have to be closed," he said, referring to his sexual orientation. "I cannot come out in my country and have to be hiding who I am."

The root issues of Tanumijardja's case are more complicated than simply deporting someone for an overstayed visa or denying a political asylum application, according to his attorney, Lavi Soloway.

The case sits at the intersection of gay rights and immigration reform, he says.

"Our whole immigration system, 80% of the cases are based on family unification, it's about keeping the family together," Soloway said. "But this just doesn't register with the LGBT community. It's a reflection of anti-gay discrimination."

Tanumihardja started dating Brian Andersen last fall, and they have been inseparable ever since.

Andersen, 28, is an American citizen. If they were heterosexual and planned to marry, Tanumihardja could possibly have been sponsored for residency, Soloway argues.

Under current U.S. law, the sponsorship option does not exist for same-sex couples.

Tanumihardja, who has a degree in accounting and marketing, works at Coventry Deli in downtown Philadelphia where he also doubles as the bookkeeper.

He will continue his fight to stay, he said.

"I do my best for this county, I love this country," he said.

Soloway says he fears for Tanumihardja if he is forced to return to Indonesia.

"He is a gay man who has had the opportunity to live openly as a gay man in Philadelphia. And now he's going back to live where in order to survive, you cannot be open," Soloway said. "We guard against taking for granted our freedom to be with those we love."

The last-minute stay of deportation has Tanumihardja and Andersen relieved, but cautious.

"This is the best we could of hoped for at this point," Andersen said after hearing the news. "It's something that is very real and happening."

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Members of committee of the Q! Film Festival install banners during pre-festival preparations in Jakarta on September 24, 2010. A gay film festival hailed as the biggest in Asia and the only one in the Muslim world kicks off in Indonesia on September 24, hoping to draw 15,000 viewers to screenings and fringe events. In its ninth annual edition, the Q! Film Festival will showcase 150 films from more than 20 countries including France, Japan and the Philippines, highlighting such issues as gay rights and HIV/AIDS. (AFP)

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‘Imlek’ celebrated in the spirit of pluralism

Andi Hajramurni and Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post, Makassar/Yogyakarta | Fri, 02/04/2011

Festive mood: A Church congregation joins a Chinese-themed Mass at Tebet Catholic Church in South Jakarta on Thursday. The celebration is part of Chinese New Year festivities. JP/Damar Harsanto

Chinese New Year, or Imlek, is not only celebrated by Indonesian-Chinese, but also ethnic Indonesians in a number of large cities.

In Makassar, South Sulawesi, hundreds of residents joined in the revelry on the eve of Imlek on Wednesday night.

For them, Imlek is a much-awaited time when they can enjoy the festive fireworks, lanterns, lion dances and bright temple lights in the Chinatown area pervaded by the scent of joss sticks.

On Wednesday night, hundreds of residents from Makassar and surrounding areas crowded on Jl. Sulawesi to witness the festivities. The street is home to two large temples and is where the Imlek festivities are concentrated. Police closed the road to traffic.

Residents waited until midnight to watch the colorful firework display.

Ethnic Chinese residents had since the afternoon flocked to the temples to pray. They burned joss sticks and prayed to deities for themselves and for the peace and security of the country.

An ethnic Chinese resident in Makassar, Yuli, expressed hope that the country and its people would face a better year and would be protected from disasters and upheaval.

“I pray for myself and for the country. Hopefully, there would be no disasters and riots this year, so we can live better and peaceful lives and the economy can improve,” he said.

On the resort island of Bali, an acculturation of Balinese and Chinese traditions colored the celebrations on Thursday.

Indonesian-Chinese marked the first day of the Year of Rabbit in the spirit of pluralism, as they flocked to houses of worship to pray for blessings for the year ahead.

In Jakarta, Governor Fauzi Bowo made a pledge that he would end discrimination against Indonesian-Chinese.

During a visit to the Chinese neighborhood in Rawa Kompeni in Kalideres, West Jakarta, the governor said he had made efforts to end such discrimination including repealing a policy that required Jakartans of Chinese descent to inform of their ethnic background on their identity cards.

Fauzi said Chinese culture had become part of the indigenous culture of Jakarta. “The Chinese culture is an inseparable part of Jakarta. It is now part of its culture and I am proud of that,” he said.

In Yogyakarta, the Indonesian-Chinese community held the week-long Chinese Cultural Week (PBT) festival as a mark of solidarity with survivors of the recent Mount Merapi eruptions by showcasing the traditions of residents living on the slopes of the volcano.

The PBT this year lacked the glamor of previous years. “This is our way of mourning the Merapi disaster,” Yogyakarta Mayor Herry Zudianto said.

Yogyakarta has long been renowned as boasting a diverse culture. The Imlek festivities also showcased various groups and religions in Yogyakarta. “We organized this year’s Imlek celebrations to promote tourism in Yogyakarta,” Herry said.

In Palangkaraya, West Kalimantan, Imlek celebrations took place at Avalokitesvara temple on Jl. Tjilik Riwut.

While they prayed, local youth engaged in lion dances.

In Semarang, Central Java, the Imlek celebration was highlighted by the Imlek Semawis Market.

Governor guarantees freedom to worship

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 08/13/2010 10:33 AM

Amid criticism of the city authorities’ friendly gestures towards Muslim hard-line groups, Governor Fauzi Bowo guaranteed Thursday the freedom to worship in Jakarta as part of his commitment to pluralism.

“The city administration is fully committed to pluralism and religious harmony and will not take even a step back from this commitment. Jakarta was built on diversi-ty,” Fauzi said at the City Hall following a meeting with members of the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI).

He said he was satisfied with the state of religious harmony in the city in the last five years.

PGI Jakarta secretary Manuel E. Raintung echoed the governor’s statement, saying that the Interfaith Communication Forum (FKUB) in the city always held a weekly meeting involving religious figures from the six religions officially recognized by the government: Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Confucianism.

“The communication between religious leaders is good and the FKUB members also have good relations with the city administration,” Manuel said.

However, he said, FKUB still faced problems communicating with the grass roots.

“We try to reach the people to inform them about religious harmony once a month,” Manuel said.

He said that at its upcoming plenary meeting, held once every five years, the PGI would discuss, among others, the creation of a democratic, fair and peaceful community.

The issue of religious intolerance has become a key topic for public discussion following several attacks on religious minorities by members of some Islamic mass organizations.

In the latest attack, hundreds of local residents and members of the Islamic Community Forum (FUI), an affiliate of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), assaulted the congregation of the HKBP church in Pondok Timur Indah housing complex at Mustika Jaya subdistrict, Bekasi, eastern Jakarta, last Sunday.

A day earlier, Fauzi and Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Timur Pradopo attended the FPI’s 12th anniversary celebrations.

Last Monday, city police invited several hard-line groups to a ceremony where evidence that had been confiscated during a recent operation against vice, piracy and narcotics crimes was destroyed.

Public Order Agency head Effendi Anas clarified Thursday that no mass organizations would be involved in city security issues including in raiding entertainment establishments during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

“There are only three institutions with the authority to monitor entertainment venue: the Public Order Agency, the Jakarta Tourism Agency and the Jakarta Police,” Effendi said, adding that the administration would not allow mass organizations to take part in raids.

Public order officers will monitor entertainment centers in the city from 10:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. every day. (not)

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Vatican envoy asks Papua Catholics to preserve Sentani Festival

Antara News, Monday, June 14, 2010 16:03 WIB

Sentani, Papua (ANTARA News)- Vatican Ambassador to Indonesia Mgr Leopoldo Girellin called on the Catholic community in Papua to preserve the traditional Lake Sentani Festival (FDS).

"All positive things that we go about in faith will be of great advantage to all people," Girellin said at a gathering with local government officials, religious and community figures from Jayapura and Keerom districts at the Dapur Papua restaurant here on Monday.

The Vatican envoy said traditional arts and culture anywhere should be preserved and upheld for the welfare of all people.

In his three-day pastoral visit to the easternmost Indonesian province of Papua, Girellin called on the local religious and community figures to continue maintaining religious harmony, tolerance, and peace in Papua.

He also called on the entire Catholic community in the province to support the local government in preserving the local traditional arts and culture, especially the Lake Sentani Festival.

The Vatican envoy on Sunday afternoon was greeted with a typical Papua traditional dance when he arrived at the Lake Sentani Festival arena at Kalkote village in Sentani.

On the occasion, he planted a number of trees at the lake side and then made a boat trip around the lake to enjoy the surrounding natural beauty found nowhere else in the world.

After visiting Jayapura , the Holy See`s envoy would also visit the Merauke archdiocese in Merauke district on June 20 before returning to Jakarta.

Meanwhile, Jayapura district head Habel Melkias Suwae said the Vatican envoy came to Papua on a pastoral mission but he also took time to visit the Lake Sentani Festival arena.

Habel said the Vatican envoy was keenly interested in the Lake Sentani Festival themed "Loving Culture for Our Future" because he acknowledged that by loving and preserving their traditional and cultural values , people were also doing something good for their future and the next generation.

Jakarta’s Catholic history out on display

Hasyim Widhiarto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 05/20/2010 10:49 AM

One small piece of yellowed paper has become one of the biggest attractions at the Cathedral Museum, Central Jakarta, for the sinister message it carries: “We will shoot the Pope in the neck”.

The letter, which was sent to Jakarta Cathedral several weeks before Pope John Paul II’s visit to Indonesia in 1989, is among the collection of hundreds of historic items on display at the cathedral’s current exhibition.

Located on the second floor of the Jakarta Cathedral, the museum, which was inaugurated in 1991, tells the history of the Catholic church in Indonesia.

Some of the oldest items include several 200-year-old books on baptismal registration during Dutch-colonial era, a 17th-century clock that also tells the day and date and a series of photos documenting the cathedral’s construction in 1901.

However, the museum’s most famous item may be an image of the cathedral painted on dried banana leaves by Kusni Kadut, a criminal who made headlines in the 60s after committing a series of antique art robberies, including one in 1961 from the National Museum, Central Jakarta.

Kusni, a paramilitary during the Indonesia’s war of independence, was finally sentenced to death in 1980, after robbing and killing an Arab businessman in Kebon Sirih area, Central Jakarta. He converted to Catholicism while in jail.

Despite its extensive collection, the museum has only seen a few visitors due to limited opening hours and a lack of promotion.

According to Hadi Wahyu, one of the museum’s caretakers, the museum is open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Every third Sunday of the month, the museum is open between 12 noon and 2 p.m.

“Even members of the cathedral’s congregation haven’t visited the museum,” Hadi told The Jakarta Post.

The cathedral’s spokeswoman Graece Tanus suggested would-be visitors or tourists groups contact the cathedral if they wanted to stop by in its museum or requesting tour guide assistance.

“Only four people are assigned to handle the museum and the opening hours are tight. So we want to make sure that all visitors receive good service,” she said.

“It’s all free,” Graece added.

Earlier this year, the Culture and Tourism Ministry launched the “2010 Visit Museums Year” campaign to promote the country’s cultural sites.