The Presidium of the Indonesian Supreme Council of Beliefs (MLKI),\nEngkus Ruswana, stated that the followers of Padepokan Saung Taraju\nJumantara in Kampung Babakan Salak, Purwarahayu Village, Taraju\nDistrict, Tasikmalaya Regency, West Java, who were assaulted by a mob\nover heresy accusations, do not qualify as adherents of indigenous\nbeliefs. Instead, they practise syncretism, or a fusion of religious\nstreams with ancestral traditions.<\/p>\n
Engkus exemplified syncretism within Islam, where adherents follow\nIslamic sharia, such as performing prayers, while also practising\nancestral traditions. Syncretism, he said, is evident in the Yogyakarta\nPalace and the Cirebon Sultanate.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they still follow Islamic sharia, then that person is not a pure\nindigenous belief adherent, but falls under syncretism,\u201d said Engkus,\ncontacted by telephone on Monday, 6 April 2026.<\/p>\n
The followers of Padepokan Saung Taraju Jumantara in Kampung Babakan\nSalak, Tasikmalaya Regency, became victims of a mob rampage accused of\nspreading a deviant stream on Wednesday night, 1 April 2026. A group of\npeople burned a structure resembling a pavilion in the middle of a rice\nfield owned by the padepokan\u2019s leader. The mob also forced the\npadepokan\u2019s followers to recite the shahada and threatened to kill\nthem.<\/p>\n
A witness, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, showed videos\nof the pavilion burning and the coercion of padepokan followers to\nrecite the shahada. The pavilion was engulfed in flames and cordoned off\nwith yellow police tape. The witness also displayed a resident statement\nrejecting the padepokan\u2019s presence.<\/p>\n
Padepokan Saung Taraju Jumantara has dozens of members from 30\nhouseholds. Among the followers of Padepokan Saung Taraju Jumantara,\nthey still list Islam in the religion column on their Identity Cards\n(KTP). They also perform prayers. However, in daily life, they practise\nancestral teachings known in indigenous beliefs.<\/p>\n
They often discuss the importance of honouring Sunda ancestors who\nteach compassion and prohibit the exploitation of nature. They believe\nin ancient Javanese philosophy known as sedulur papat lima pancer. The\nconcept involves controlling anger, lust, and greed, including\nprohibitions against damaging the environment. They follow the Pikukuh\nSunda teachings.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaintaining harmony between humans, God, and nature,\u201d said a\nfollower of Padepokan Saung Taraju Jumantara.<\/p>\n
The companion of the Padepokan Saung Taraju Jumantara followers, Andi\nIbnu Hadi, said the pavilion burning was the culmination of a 2024\ndemonstration rejecting the padepokan followers in front of the\nTasikmalaya Regency Prosecutor\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n
Another trigger was a quarrel between padepokan followers and\nprovocateurs on social media. As a result, the padepokan\u2019s leader and\nfollowers received death threats. The padepokan followers were also\nforced to recite the shahada, a requirement for those intending to\nembrace Islam.<\/p>\n
Andi said that Khobir, the padepokan\u2019s leader, is part of the\nWahidiyah group congregation that values Sunda cultural local wisdom.\nThey practise respect for nature.<\/p>\n
The Constitutional Court Ruling Number 97\/PUU-XIV\/2016, which tested\nthe material of articles in the Population Administration Law, allows\nadherents of belief streams to list their convictions in the religion\ncolumn on family cards (KK) and KTPs. Nevertheless, some indigenous\nbelief adherents still list recognised religions in the KTP column for\nvarious reasons.<\/p>\n
Engkus Ruswana said that indigenous belief adherents are widespread\nin various corners of Indonesia, including Tasikmalaya, before the\n1960s. However, the 1965 humanitarian tragedy decimated indigenous\nbelief adherents. That event caused many to hide their identities. They\nexperienced persecution and discrimination as accused members of the\nIndonesian Communist Party.<\/p>\n
The marginalisation of indigenous belief adherents, according to\nEngkus, did not only occur during the New Order regime but since the\ncolonial era. Since then, ancestral religions that existed before\nHinduism and Buddhism entered Indonesia were sidelined due to the\nhegemony of Abrahamic religions.<\/p>\n
The sidelining of ancestral religions continued with changes in\ngovernment regimes. Indigenous belief adherents had to hide. They were\noften labelled as deviant streams. The MK ruling brought fresh air for\nindigenous belief adherents due to recognition.<\/p>\n
However, said Engkus, not all indigenous belief adherents dare to\nchange their identities on their KTPs. Some still list\ngovernment-recognised religions. In urban areas, according to Engkus,\nsome indigenous belief adherents dare to openly reveal their identities.\nThe situation differs for those living in rural areas. \u201cThere is trauma\nand fear,\u201d said Engkus.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mlki-followers-of-the-burned-padepokan-include-syncretism-1775634702", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }