The National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA) has expressed its strong sympathy with the Indonesian Government and people over recent threatening acts towards Indonesia and the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra. It has called on the Australian community to respect Australia’s relationship with our close neighbour Indonesia, and to celebrate the growing understanding between our two countries, and their respective governments.

The NCCA has close links with the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (PGI), and with other Indonesian faith communities, through various dialogue programmes aimed at increasing awareness and understanding between the people of our countries and their various beliefs and practices.

The President of the NCCA, the Reverend Professor James Haire, commented, “We very much regret the threats some people have made towards Indonesia and its representatives here in Australia, and we express our sympathy with them. Christians believe in good order in society, as the Bible teaches. We call on the Australian community to respect Indonesia, its laws and its people, and to celebrate the close ties between our two countries.”

The General Secretary of the NCCA, the Reverend John Henderson, added, “Since the generous and humane response to the tsunami there have been increasingly warm relations between Australia and Indonesia. This is how good neighbours act in times of trouble. We grow in stature as a nation when we act compassionately in the best interests of our neighbours, and every Australian can be proud of that.”

For further comment:
Revd Professor James Haire, President, ph (02) 6273-8805 or 0408 632 092
Revd John Henderson, General Secretary, ph (02) 9299 2215 or 0419 224 935