|  Mon, 04/14/2008 11:52 AM  |  Opinion

Uncivilized persecution in a 'civilized' world

Anand Krishna,  Jakarta  

It is frustrating and disheartening to see how we, the so-called "civilized" citizens of this "civilized" world, can still behave in a most uncivilized manner.

The murder of Madi of Selena -- a small village in Palu, Central Sulawesi -- bears witness to the animal instincts within us. The animal within us knows only one language; that of survival. It does not know love, nor does it speak the language of compassion.

Back in 2005, our distinguished religious affairs minister declared Madi and the people who believed in his teachings were "deviant". This was of course endorsed by one of our equally distinguished religious institutions.

The reason why he was declared thus, is simple: He did not comply with the teachings of "a religion" as understood and enforced by the said institution.

Last week Madi was killed by our police. I use the word "our", so you and I do not run away from our responsibility in this killing. The police who killed him are "our" people, "our" officers. Our government, which is again elected by "us", runs the department with "our" money -- money from "our" taxpayers.

The National Police (Polri) is there for "us", for you and for me, as much as it is for the religious institutions and their heads and our religious affairs minister -- and also for Madi, who is now dead.

In his statement, issued April 7 (one day after the killing), Indigenous People's Alliance (AMAN) secretary-general Abdon Nababan made an appeal to the civilized world to consider and honor the rights of commoners like you and I to embrace any religion or belief system of our choice. He also asked for an inquiry into Madi's death.

This is interesting, because the immediate family of Madi was reportedly relieved by his death, and so were the inhabitants of his village. This was in total contrast with their statements back in 2005, when the establishment first declared Madi was a deviant.

Back then, villagers, and even religious leaders there, did not consider Madi a threat. They even said state officials were mistaken in their view of the group being a "dangerous cult". This was also reported by The Jakarta Post.

In spite of this, the local police of Central Sulawesi acted in an unwise manner, and followers of Madi responded to that in an unintelligent manner too. Why did this happen? Because, we the "civilized" people of this "civilized" world, did not react. We did not come forward to present their case to the police and the minister in charge of religious affairs.

We forgot that groups like Madi's are found everywhere in our archipelago. They follow traditional teachings and practice the age-old beliefs that are prevalent here. By calling them deviant, we, our government, establishment and all its agencies, do not appreciate our own culture, traditions or ancient heritage at all.

It is wrong for the state to view such beliefs and practices from the standpoint of so-called "established" religions like Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism or Confucianism.

A nation which does not honor its own cultural heritage is a failed nation. We are failing. The killing of Madi is the result of our fall and our failure.

If we want to save this nation from further degradation, then we must all speak out. And we must be loud enough so those people in power, who are currently misusing what they consider to be "their" power, can hear us.

The killing of Madi is only a repetition of what we did to Sheikh Siti Jenar and Hamza Fansuri. We have not progressed at all over the last few centuries.

Those who close their hearts and minds and go by the written word alone are still in power. They are the real rulers, and they are always ready to crucify another Jesus, to force another Muhammad and another Lao Tzu into self-exile, to poison another Buddha or shoot another Gandhi.

Our Constitution guarantees our right to freely practice the religion and/or belief system of our choice. The state -- run by our President and his ministers -- must honor and abide the Constitution. Our President is bound by his oath to uphold the Constitution.

It is also the duty and responsibility of each and every citizen, as part of our civil rights, to remind our leaders of their oath, their duties, responsibilities and of course limitations. No one is above the Constitution.

Had Madi and his followers not been declared "deviant" by the establishment; had the police not reacted unwisely in 2005; had their been no unnecessary clashes resulting in the death of our police officers -- today, Madi would still be with us.

The death of Madi shall, for generations to come, bear witness to the narrowness of our minds and, above all, to our closed hearts.

The writer is a spiritual activist (www.anandkrishna.org, www.californiabali.org, www.aumkar.org).