Buddhist protesters seal bar in Indonesia
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Indonesian Buddhists symbolically “sealed” the upmarket Buddha Bar in Jakarta last week, urging authorities to immediately close the Paris-based entertainment franchise for blasphemy.
Antara news agency reported that about 150 protesters carrying joss sticks and flowers gathered outside the bar and denounced its decorative use of sacred symbols and statues.
“For us, Buddha is our revered teacher. But for them, Buddha is a decoration and the worst thing is the statues are in such an indecent place,” protest coordinator, Eko Nugroho, was reported saying.
The trendy bar opened its first Asian franchise in Jakarta last year and decorated it with large Buddha statues and images.
“This franchise could never open in Malaysia, Singapore or Thailand. Its opening in Jakarta is really an insensitive decision by the government,” Nugroho was quoted saying.
The report said another group of Buddhists was planning to sue the government for granting the bar an operating licence.
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