Home Worldwide Indonesia February, 2011 US deplores Pandeglang,…

NATIONAL Thu, 02/10/2011 10:15 AM

The US government has issued official statements deploring the recent mob violence against Ahmadis in Pandeglang, Banten, which led to three deaths, and on three churches in Temanggung, Central Java, following a blasphemy trial.

In a press statement released Wednesday in Washington (Thursday in Jakarta), US State Department spokesman Philip J. Crowley says:

“The United States is deeply concerned about the mob violence in Indonesia directed at members of the Ahmadiyah community, which resulted in the deaths of three people and the wounding of several others this past weekend.

We also note with concern the recent church burnings in Central Java. We join the vast majority of Indonesians in deploring these acts of violence.”

The US praised President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s statement that the government would take “firm action” against the perpetrators of the violence.

“[The statement] underscores Indonesia’s commitment to the rule of law and to the protection of the rights of all communities.”

Source:   www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/02/10/us-deplores-pandeglang- temanggung-attacks.html