PPP presses for non-denominational faith exclusion<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The minority United Development Party (PPP) at
\nthe People's Consultative Assembly pressed yesterday for the
\nexclusion of the non-denominational faith, which it feared could
\nbecome a \"new religion\", from the next state policy guidelines'
\nchapters on religious affairs.<\/p>\n
The 1993\/1998 State Policy Guidelines put the non-
\ndenominational faith, known here as the Kepercayaan Terhadap
\nTuhan Yang Mahaesa (Belief in One God), under the policy on
\nreligious affairs.<\/p>\n
The 1978\/1982 guidelines were the first to treat the non-
\ndenominational faith on the same footing with religions, a
\nhighly-controversial step that angered many religious
\ncommunities, especially Moslems.<\/p>\n
PPP spokesman Zarkasih Nur told the Assembly committee in
\ncharge of state policy guidelines that the non-denominational
\nfaith, which had been recognized by the government over the past
\n20 years, should go under the discussion on culture.<\/p>\n
\"(Followers of) the non-denominational faith have turned it
\ninto a new religion by developing their own ritual and social
\nsystem such as marriage and oath procedures.<\/p>\n
\"For 20 years this peculiar system of belief has sparked
\nadversaries, legal confusion, social problems and has sown seeds
\nof potential conflicts,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The government recognizes only Islam, Catholicism,
\nProtestantism, Hinduism and Buddhism as the state's official
\nreligions. The non-denominational faith is allowed to grow as a
\nmorality teaching.<\/p>\n
There are reportedly 245 non-denominational faith
\norganizations currently under the supervision of the Ministry of
\nEducation and Culture.<\/p>\n
PPP secretary general Tosari Widjaja, who also attended the
\nsession, said the minority faction would stick to its stance, and
\nwould press for a vote if necessary.<\/p>\n
\"We will fight it out to defend our proposal because it is
\nconcerned with aqidah (Moslem religious teaching). We bear the
\nmandate of the ummah. We would be sinning if we do not deliver
\nit,\" he told the reporters after the session.<\/p>\n
Moslem scholar and Golkar spokesman, Quraish Shihab, said his
\nfaction opposed PPP's bid because the exclusion of the non-
\ndenominational faith from religious affairs would seclude a group
\nof Indonesian people who, despite their small size, have equal
\nrights according to the 1945 Constitution.<\/p>\n
\"If we separate them, we will let followers of the non-
\ndenominational faith go away from religious teachings and
\ntherefore would inspire them to set up a new or pseudo religion,\"
\nsaid Shihab, who is also rector of the Jakarta-based Syarif
\nHidayatullah State Islamic Institute.<\/p>\n
Committee chairman R. Hartono predicted a tough debate on this
\nissue, based on his experience five years ago when the PPP bid
\nfor the same adjustment on the stipulation. He promised, however,
\nto personally approach every party for a settlement.<\/p>\n
Rule<\/p>\n
The Assembly also turned down yesterday a motion to introduce
\nsubstantial changes in its internal rules -- which would include
\nthe granting of a special authority for the body to review laws
\n-- but agreed to revise a minor stipulation on the status of its
\nsessions.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the Assembly's ad hoc committee deliberating the
\ninternal rule draft, Wiranto, said the body's five factions
\nsustained the PPP faction's demand that committee sessions be
\ndeclared open for public.<\/p>\n
The old rule stated that the sessions had to be held behind
\nclosed doors, although committee chairpersons could declare
\nsessions open upon request by all factions.<\/p>\n
\"We support the proposal because we share a commitment to
\nenhance transparency in this legislative body,\" Wiranto said
\nafter the session.<\/p>\n
The dominant Golkar faction had asked for transparency in the
\ncommittee opening session last week, but it did not make a formal
\nrequest for amendment in the rule.<\/p>\n
Except for the compromise reached yesterday, the Golkar-
\ndominated Assembly gave no room for changes in its members'
\nrights and the number of its factions. The motion was sponsored
\nby the PPP and its fellow minority faction the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party (PDI).<\/p>\n
The committee ruled out the PDI's bid to expand Assembly
\nmembers' rights with the authority to review laws and the Supreme
\nCourt's verdicts.<\/p>\n
\"We reached an agreement after inter-faction lobbying that the
\nAssembly's current authorities remain the same... and there is
\nno need for extra authority for judicial review,\" Wiranto said.<\/p>\n
The present rule says an Assembly member has the right to
\nspeak, vote, deliver proposals for amendments of Assembly
\ndecrees, appraise the President's policies and nominate a
\npresident and vice president. (09\/amd)<\/p>",
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