Letter: RI is not a Muslim country

I would like to comment regarding the use of the term “Muslim-country” to describe Indonesia.

Although this is something that is often done by just about every news source I have seen, read or listened to, including occasionally The Jakarta Post, it is the repeated use of the term in this particular manner by a senior reporter for a TV channel in the country.

It is too personal to say that the use of the term “Muslim-country” to describe Indonesia is offensive to non-Muslim Indonesians, whose number in recent times have decreased thanks to long-term unjust treatment of East Timor resulting in their separation, or since the 1960s when Indonesians were forced to choose one of only five religions, and especially considering the fact that non-Muslims also fought for our independence.

My objection is simply the fact that constitutionally Indonesia is not a Muslim-country. I believe the correct term is a “Muslim-majority” country.

My objection is the fact that the reporter is not someone who no one respects or listens to, and is not someone whose profession does not oblige him to report accurately using accurate terminology.
Using accurate words to describe ourselves is essential to preserving an accurate perception of our identity.     
 
John Paul
Jakarta