Islamist protesters in Indonesia are demanding the removal of a new local authority chief in a Muslim-majority area of West Java because she is a Christian.
Susan Jasmine Zulkifli was appointed the sub-district head of Lenteng Agung by Joko Widodo, Governor of Jakarta, in June.
On August 26, Islamists presented a dubious petition calling for her dismissal; the list of 2,300 names was supported by only 1,500 photocopied ID documents. They followed this up two days later with a demonstration, in which around 100 people took part, outside the sub-district office.
Gracious response
Mrs. Zulkifli’s opponents claim that she is not fit for the post because she cannot take part in Muslim religious ceremonies or prayers. They have called for her to be moved to an area with a Christian majority. She has responded graciously to the demonstrations, saying that everyone has the right ‘to make their voices heard in a peaceful manner’, adding: ‘The purpose of my presence in Lenteng Agung is simple: to serve the citizens and enforce the rules’. She also said that many of her staff are Muslims and could therefore participate in Islamic ceremonies in her place.
Mrs. Zulkifli has the support of Governor Widodo, who confirmed on August 28, the day of the protests, that he would not move her to another area, stressing that he had appointed local leaders on the basis of their performance and achievements. She is also backed by local human rights group the Forum of Lenteng Agung Residents for Reformation (Formala), which supports the city administration’s efforts to develop good governance. Representative R. Nio Soeprapto said: ‘We strongly suggest the sub-district head check out the people who drew up the petition because no resident has rejected her appointment. If such a rejection was true, we would consider it as intolerance related to ethnicity, religion, race and group affiliation, and therefore report it to the police’.
It has been suggested that the opposition to Mrs. Zulkifli is part of wider Islamist discontent with the Jakarta governor and his Christian deputy, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama. The latter made electoral history in Indonesia by taking one of the country’s highest posts last year.
Widodo and Purnama are said to have formed an effective partnership that has improved the quality of life in Indonesia’s capital. But Islamists resent Muslim and Christian leaders working together, and opposition to this pairing is expected to increase in the coming months, despite its success.
