Permit to worship

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Fri, 03/31/2006 9:07 AM  |  Opinion

Azyumardi Azra, the highly respected scholar and rector of Syarif Hidayatullah Islamic State University, has asked people to give the government time to prove the effectiveness and applicability of its new decree on the construction of houses of worship. His words should be heeded.

Azyumardi was responding to concerns expressed by representatives of minority religious groups that the new joint ministerial decree will aggravate the already problematic freedom of religion in the country.

Religious Affairs Minister M. Maftuh Basyuni and Home Minister M. Ma'ruf say the new decree -- issued to replace a 1969 regulation -- is instrumental to improving interfaith relationships because it sets clearer and more definitive requirements for building places of worship.

The decree states that a new house of worship must have the support of at least 90 congregants and the approval of the local administration and at least 60 residents of different faiths.

Some critics question the appropriateness of the decree. Why is a permit necessary to erect a house of worship? Isn't the country based on the five principles of Pancasila, which include ""belief in God""?

Both the old and new decrees attempt to cover the sometimes disharmonious relationship between believers of different faiths, especially Christians and Muslims. Some Muslims hold the perception that Christians have the power and money to build an unlimited number of churches, and that they will not stop trying to increase the number of Christians in the country by any means possible. Christians, meanwhile, worry that Muslims will block efforts to construct new churches, while Muslims are free to build mosques wherever they please.

This undercurrent of disharmony between religious groups, which the people and the government would prefer to sweep under the carpet, should be openly examined. With anything less than complete honesty, the issue will never be addressed.

There is a lot of work left to be done, especially in a country where it is less than polite to call a spade a spade and where the use of religion as a political weapon is seen as a legitimate tactic.

We expect disturbances ahead with the implementation of the new decree. Almost nothing will work without a genuine understanding of other religions and cultures, which can only be nurtured at an early age.

Religious tension can be seen as a legacy of the country's past and the decree is a feeble attempt to cover a gaping wound. The decree itself is a result of prolonged negotiations to reach some sort of compromise.

On the other hand, we also have to be realistic. The new decree is a modest improvement on the previous one, which was often less than effective. The criteria for building a house of worship is now more clear cut.

Indonesia is not alone in facing this problem. Globally, there is growing tension and distrust between the West -- perceived as Christian -- and the Islamic world, especially after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The United States, in its war against terrorism, often humiliates and angers Muslims around the world, although President Bush repeatedly claims the war against terror is not a war on Islam. Like it or not, this global tension also affects relations between Muslims and Christians here.

The country's domestic hardships also fuel this friction. With millions of people unemployed, and this number growing by the year, there is more and more frustration among the people. Christians and other non-Muslims, often perceived as controlling the country's economy, are often the target of this frustration.

It was under these circumstances that the decree was enacted. The government fully realizes it must take measures to ensure freedom of religion, while also making sure that the interests of Muslims, as the majority group in the country, also are looked after.

The government believes it has done its best to accommodate public aspirations about places of worship. Muslims groups believe they have done their best to ensure the spiritual welfare of their Christian compatriots. Christian groups, however, feel the decree does not meet their expectations.

We would like to repeat Azyumardi's statement, that all parties should give the new decree a fair opportunity, while expecting the domestic situation and global conditions will improve.

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