JAKARTA, May 28 – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (photo) will accept the World Statesman of the Year award from US-based NGO Appeal of Conscience Foundation (ACF) despite protests from activists in Indonesia.
The award is given to Susilo for Indonesia’s progress in democracy and its commitment in promoting peace, Indonesian news agency ANTARA reported.
“I understand there are protests from activists about this award. However, let’s look at this as an opportunity for Indonesia to work harder in future,” the president said.
However, activists have protested against the award, saying the president had not been successful in fighting violence against minority groups in Indonesia.
Susilo said his visit to Sweden and New York from May 27 to June 2 was not solely for the purpose of receiving the award, but to chair a meeting of the UNHigh-Level Panel on Post MDGs 2015 and hand over the meeting’s draft of recommendation to UN secretary-general Ban Ki Moon.
A religious organisation figure, Benny Susetyo, has earlier urged Susilo to reconsider his decision to accept the award from AFC.
“The President had better reflect and reconsider his decision to accept the award,” said the secretary of the Commission for Religions and Faiths of the Indonesian Bishops’ Conference.
Benny said if the President does go ahead and accept the award, it must be used as a momentum for the government to be more serious in handling cases of intolerance and human rights violations in the country.
“If the award is accepted and is not followed by improvements in handling of violent cases, the award would only draw the international community’s cynicism towards Indonesia,” he said.
Franz Magnis Suseno SJ, professor of political ethics at Driyarkara Philosophy High Learning Institute, has sent an open letter to protest the planned presentation of the award.
“It could discredit ACH’s claim as an institution that aims to promote morality,” he wrote in the letter.The government had so far done nothing to protect victims of conflicts over freedom of faith, such as in the case of Ahmadiyah and Shiite groups, he added.
Presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha has advised all parties against misinterpreting the giving of the award.
“If any individual or group in the country questions the award’s planned presentation, we would accept them in the context of freedom of speech,” he said.
-BERNAMA
