Govt called on to recognize Confucianism<\/p>\n
BANDUNGAN, Central Java (JP): Experts called on the government
\nover the weekend to recognize Confucianism, a faith traditionally
\nheld by people of Chinese descent here, and to treat its
\nfollowers as equal to followers of other faiths.<\/p>\n
Speaking in a discussion here on Saturday about the recent
\ncase of a civil registry office in East Java refusing to register
\nthe Confucian marriage of a Chinese couple, the experts warned
\nthat the government is running the risk of violating the people's
\nrights if it does not sanction Confucianism.<\/p>\n
\"Regulations and rulings against anyone's effort to observe
\ntheir faith are violations of human rights,\" said Is Susanto, a
\nlegal expert at the Semarang-based Diponegoro University.<\/p>\n
The other speakers in the seminar were Soewoto, head of the
\nSurabaya University's center for human rights studies, Budhi
\nMunawar Rachman of the Jakarta-based Paramadina Foundation's
\nIslamic Studies Center, and Salatiga-based sociologist Arief
\nBudiman.<\/p>\n
The Surabaya Civil Registry Office in East Java recently
\nrefused to register a Chinese couple after their wedding ritual
\nwas conducted in Boen Bio, a Confucian temple. The couple has
\nfiled a lawsuit against the Registry Office at the State
\nAdministrative Court in Surabaya.<\/p>\n
Marriage Law No.1\/1974 states that couples should marry by
\nobserving their religious rituals first before being registered
\nat the Registry Office. The law does not mention any specific
\nreligion.<\/p>\n
Confucianism in Indonesia is widely regarded as an illegal and
\nunrecognized religion, even as a non-religion by some.<\/p>\n
The state recognizes five faiths here: Islam, Protestantism,
\nCatholicism, Hinduism and Buddhism.<\/p>\n
According to Soewoto, however, Confucianism also has legal
\ngrounds to exist here because it's mentioned along with the five
\nfaiths in a 1965 law.<\/p>\n
\"The law can be used to say that Confucianism is a sanctioned
\nfaith,\" Soewoto said. \"All lower rulings which attempt to negate
\nConfucianism can then be revoked.\"<\/p>\n
The public, he said, could call on the Supreme Court to review
\nall rulings and regulations which are against the 1965 law.<\/p>\n
Soewoto said no problems would occur if the government
\nregulated in detail the faiths that people can embrace.<\/p>\n
\"Religions should not be a state affair,\" he said. \"Unless the
\ngovernment can prove that certain religions and faiths threaten
\nnational security, it should allow people to follow any faith.\"<\/p>\n
Budhi agreed, saying that among people's basic rights is the
\nfreedom to choose their own faiths. \"The state doesn't have the
\nauthority to negate this freedom,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Is Susanto called for the legal protection of people's right
\nto follow and practice their faiths.<\/p>\n
Arief Budiman saw the case from another point of view, namely
\nthe prejudice against people of Chinese descent.<\/p>\n
\"The power holders shouldn't be suspicious of people who
\nadhere to Confucianism,\" he said. \"Confucianism is a faith, not a
\nculture which has the potential to threaten Indonesia's native
\ncultures.<\/p>\n
\"Please provide some space for the followers of Confucianism,
\nespecially the people of Chinese descent here,\" Arief said. \"If
\nthey are trusted and allowed to follow their own faith, I believe
\nthat they will be loyal to the Indonesian government.\"<\/p>\n
President Soeharto has often stated that Indonesia does not
\nrecognize the terms \"legal\" or \"illegal\" religions.<\/p>\n
Ethnic Chinese number nearly five million in Indonesia's
\npopulation of 190 million. A great number of them have abandoned
\nConfucianism and converted to one of the five \"official\"
\nreligions. (har\/swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-called-on-to-recognize-confucianism-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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