In recent years, Muslim radicals here have acquired more power and energy, in large part because of the weakness of our State. Our current Government is supported by several parties and many of them are clearly in favour of radicals.
These radicals are not only intolerant of the beliefs of minority groups, but are also against something the secular ideology of the State and its Constitution very, very tolerant.
Indonesia is the country with the largest Muslim population in the world. A large number of Muslims in this country is tolerant. In fact, many are moderated.
However, they are not as vocal as the handful of radical we now perpetrate violence against the Indonesia peace-loving people, inflicting physical and emotional harm and causing undue honored Indonesians they fear for the loss of their basic rights to health, well-being and security personnel.
Unfortunately, these radicals have been created by several political parties for their own political reasons. Now, they have become monsters.
Joined June 1, my friends and the foundation of Ashram Anand (affiliated to the United Nations through the Department of public information) and the movement for national integration at the National Alliance for freedom of faith and religion in his rally of peace and fight against violence.
We were there with our musical instruments, singing, dancing, and pass our message in a dignified, human and non-violent way.
As we entered the grounds where the national monument in Central Jakarta, we were brutally attacked by the radicals. More than 80 of us were injured - many of gravity. One of our young people now suffers permanent brain damage.
The police arrived, although a little late after these criminals did its job of violence. Neither one of them was arrested in the place. A few days later, after much pressure from the public and the media, the radicals were certainly responsible for these brutal attacks that many injured were arrested.
Now, with thousands of supporters, these radicals very can hold any type of a rally and a campaign for whatever in support of their detained mentors and demand his release.
Growing radicalism in this country will definitely affect the security around the world. Therefore, it is in the interest of the world community that these violent radicals must be immediately arrested. The evidence is abundant and is only the political will of our Government that it is now necessary.
The Jakarta Post, Thu, 2008-06-19 9: 58 AM | The reader Forum
ANAND KRISHNA - spiritual activist
http://www.aumkar.org