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Jakarta: An Islamic group in West Sumatra
province, Indonesia, has issued threats against
Dominikus Supriyanto, the only Catholic to win a seat in
the district legislature in recent general elections,
warning him that he should convert to Islam if he wants
to retain the seat.
On April 23, 2009 after results were announced, a group
identifying itself as the Islamic Forum of West Pasaman
attacked Supriyanto's home, slinging stones and breaking
several windows. Supriyanto, who was in the house at the
time, said the attackers also shouted threats and
demanded that he become a Muslim if he planned to stay
in politics.
Supriyanto reported the incident to police and requested
protection. After a brief investigation, police
concluded that the attackers had most likely acted on
behalf of unsuccessful election candidates.
Elections took place on April 9, but the election
commission has only recently confirmed the names of
those who will take up positions at district, provincial
and national levels.
Supriyanto stood as a candidate for the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) in West Pasaman,
West Sumatra, and won a seat in the district legislature
from 2009 to 2014. The district is 98 percent Muslim,
but Compass sources said voters supported Supriyanto
because of his rapport with the Muslim community.
Supriyanto's party supports pancasila, Indonesia's
national policy of tolerance for all religions.
Earlier this year, supporters of other candidates
engaged in a socalled “black campaign,” warning that
Supriyanto would likely “Christianize” West Pasaman if
elected.
Despite such accusations prior to and following the
elections, Supriyanto is determined to retain his seat.
“I was elected not just by Christians and Catholics, but
by Muslims,” he told Compass. “I'm going to remain
Catholic no matter what happens.”
Supriyanto has requested support from fellow party
members in Jakarta.
The bishop of Padang diocese, Monsignor Martinus
Situmorang, said Supriyanto had won the vote fairly and
that if threats continued the diocese would take the
issue to a national level.
Members of the Islamic Forum, meanwhile, have pledged to
demonstrate publicly against Supriyanto during his
inauguration in July.
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