---

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Answer

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Indonesia concerning (a) the attack by masked gunmen on Christians at the Tabernacle Church in Kilo Village, Poso District, Sulawesi, (b) the murder of the Reverend Freddy Wuisan, (c) the shooting of Rosia Pilongo, the Dean of the Law Department of Sintuwu Maroso University, Silawesi, and (d) the shooting of Jhon Christian Tanalida close to Poso City, Silawesi. [168574] Mr. Mike O'Brien: The British Ambassador in Jakarta last raised our concerns about the situation in Central Sulawesi, including the cases referred to at a meeting with the Coordinating Minister for Welfare on 20 April 2004. We continue to urge the Indonesian Government to do all they can to ensure the safety and security of communities that have been affected by the violence in Central Sulawesi. Together with our European partners we are in regular dialogue with the Indonesian Government and urge them to encourage religious freedom, maintain law and order and promote reconciliation in areas of conflict. We also seek opportunities to work with the Indonesian authorities on measures to resolve inter- communal violence in areas such as Sulawesi. We welcome the Indonesian Government's initiatives to bring peace to its troubled provinces.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

168574; 421 c120-1W

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Crimes of violence Religious freedom Violence Indonesia Christianity

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk