How’s that again?
 

On the Trump administration’s first official visit to Indonesia, the vice president made that statement in Jakarta on Thursday – ironically, a day after the capital’s Christian governor was ousted in an election fraught with religious tension. (Following his loss, “Ahok,” the now ex-governor was quickly charged with “expressing hostile feelings or hatred towards a particular group,” see below*)
 
Yes Mr. Pence, unfortunately – if the last year or so is any indication – it seems Indonesia’s brand of Islam is just as susceptible to radicalization as any other. According to Open Doors, the country currently ranks 46th in Christian persecution ~

Claims that Indonesia would be unaffected (by) Islamic State (ISIS), due to its special brand of moderate and diverse Islam, were shattered when an attack against a café in Jakarta in January 2016 claimed seven lives.
Radical Islamic groups continue to pose serious challenges, especially when connected to international movements. Most citizens are not interested in issues of religion or minorities (as was demonstrated by a poll published in May 2016), instead they are more concerned about quick economic improvements.

 
And this doesn’t exactly scream “tolerance” ~

A children’s learning center run by doctor and mission worker, Wandi and his wife, (not their real names) in a poor community in Indonesia was recently forced to close down. The couple was accused of Christianizing Muslim children by teaching Christian songs to the children.
 
 
Although the parents protested the trumped up accusations, saying that it has been a blessing for their children to be educated, the city mayor insisted that the center closes its doors. A government official said, “Christians are not worthy of teaching Muslims.”

[Who cares about the welfare of our children! We’ve got a holy war to wage!]
 

Robert Spencer at Jihad Watch lists numerous examples of recent Indonesian immoderation that Mr. Pence may not be aware of. Here are several ~

• Sharia vigilantes beat gay couple, then turn them over to religious police
• Sharia: Woman gets 100 lashes for sex outside marriage
• “Moderate” Indonesia gives “messiah” five years in prison for “blasphemy”
• Aceh province lashes 339 people with cane in 2016 for violations of Sharia
• 150,000 Muslims demand arrest of Christian governor for “blasphemy”
• Muslims firebomb church, injure four children
• Muslim with ISIS flag stabs priest, tries to blow up church during mass, police search for motive
• Muslims call for closure of churches in Sharia province
• Police open fire on church, kill 15-year-old boy

In the following video from Open Doors, a former terrorist exposes the ideology of Indonesia’s radical Muslims ~

“To die and even to kill is God’s way in the Koran, it’s a joy, it’s a pleasure, it’s an honor.”
 
“Fighting against the Cross in Indonesia will never end until Sharia law is implemented.”

Then he contrasts his former anger and fanaticism that with the true joy and peace of mind he feels as a believer in Jesus Christ ~

Meanwhile, our vice president seems to harboring the same delusions that far too many in the west have about that benign “Religion-of-Peace” ~

“In your nation, as in mine, religion unifies — it doesn’t divide. It gives us hope for a brighter future, and we are all grateful for the great inspiration that Indonesia provides for the world,” the vice president added. “Rest assured, under President Trump, the United States welcomes all who share our values and strive for that brighter future.”…

Mr. Pence, you really seem like a decent guy, though perhaps a bit naive. With all due respect, Indonesia appears to be under siege from radical Islam. Pretending otherwise isn’t going to help anyone – except the jihadis. As that former terrorist explains, the only unifying they have planned is under Sharia.

 
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Related:
Pence Visits Mosque, Declares Indonesia’s Moderate Islam ‘an Inspiration to the World’
*Ex-Governor Ahok Standing Strong through the Storm ~

Basuki Cahaya Purnama “Ahok,” a Christian and ethnic Chinese, and Jakarta’s first non-Muslim governor in 50 years, lost re-election on April 19. The next morning, his blasphemy trial continued with the prosecutor demanding a sentence of 1 year imprisonment and 2 years’ probation.
 
What is surprising in this development is that the prosecutor did not use the original charge of blasphemy, which had resulted in mass protests against Ahok for several weeks. Instead, he is now charged for “expressing hostile feelings or hatred towards a particular group.” In this case, the particular group refers to his political opponents.

 
I love this guy! ~

“God gives the authority and so God alone can take it back,” said Ahok to his supporters after the quick count which confirmed his loss. “No one is allowed to rule without God’s permission. I once lost in the governor’s election in 2007, but then I still became Jakarta’s governor. So, don’t be sad. God knows best.”