Abilio ordered to lift rule on mosque restoration<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. has
\nordered East Timor governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares to rescind
\na governor's decree that has kept the minority Moslem community
\nin the territory from repairing their mosques.<\/p>\n
H.S.A. Yussac, chief spokesman of the ministry, said yesterday
\nthat the governor's decree runs counter to a central government
\npolicy on the establishment of houses of worship and the minister
\nhas asked that it be removed.<\/p>\n
Under the controversial decree issued by Abilio last June,
\nnon-Catholics must obtain the consent of the local community's
\nCatholic parish priest before they can build a house of worship.<\/p>\n
Roman Catholicism is the dominant religion in the former
\nPortuguese colony.<\/p>\n
Yogie's order came after the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI)
\nfiled a strong complaint with the government saying that the
\ndecree has prevented the reconstruction of mosques, Moslem
\norphanages and schools that were destroyed during racial riots in
\nvarious parts of East Timor last September.<\/p>\n
Yusacc said that the establishment of houses of worships
\nthroughout Indonesia is governed by a 1969 joint decree between
\nthe ministers of home affairs and religious affairs.<\/p>\n
The decree empowers local administrators, either the regency
\nchief or city mayors, but not local religious officials, to
\napprove plans to build prayer houses, taking into consideration
\nthe area's spatial planning, local conditions and recommendations
\nfrom local Ministry of Religion offices.<\/p>\n
The local administrators can also seek the advice of local
\nreligious leaders, as in the case of East Timor the parish
\npriest, in the decision-making process.<\/p>\n
Yusacc said Governor Abilio could issue a new ruling as long
\nas it is not in conflict with the 1969 joint decree.<\/p>\n
MUI chairman Hasan Basri yesterday quickly lauded Yogie's
\ndecision that the controversial decree be revoked.<\/p>\n
"I think this is a fair action by the government," he was
\nquoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
"We hope that the climate in East Timor will improve so that
\neveryone can get on with their religious practices. There mustn't
\nbe any lingering mutual suspicions," Basri said.<\/p>\n
He added that MUI plans to raise funds to finance the
\nreconstruction of mosques and other facilities in East Timor.<\/p>\n
Non-Moslems elsewhere in Indonesia, in reacting to the
\ncontroversy, have pointed out that they often found difficulties
\nin building their houses of worship in predominantly Moslem
\ncommunities, who have often refused to issue the necessary
\nrecommendation. (imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/abilio-ordered-to-lift-rule-on-mosque-restoration-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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