Team seeks to sanction interfaith marriages<\/p>\n
Fitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesia may again officially recognize interfaith marriages as
\na joint team tasked with formulating a new bill on civil
\nregistration has agreed that such matters are a basic right which
\nshould not be restricted by the state.<\/p>\n
Though the draft of the bill is not expected for another year,
\nAlbertus Sugeng, head of the working committee of the Consortium
\nfor Civil Registration, told The Jakarta Post here on Thursday
\nthat the committee agreed the bill \"must reduce the role of the
\nstate so it does not intervene in one's religion.\"<\/p>\n
The classic debate on the separation of state and religion is
\nlikely to reemerge as the consortium, which was formed in May,
\nbegins to disseminate its ideas on the issue.<\/p>\n
The consortium's proposal would directly invalidate Marriage
\nLaw No. 1\/1974 which stipulates that a marriage is only legal
\nwhen it is conducted according to one faith or religion.<\/p>\n
In practice a marriage can only be recognized if the couple is
\nof the same faith.<\/p>\n
Consequently couples of different religions find it difficult
\nto get their marriage legalized here and thus seek alternative
\nrecourses, among which, going abroad is one option with Singapore
\nbeing the most popular destination.<\/p>\n
According to Albertus, there are now some 5,000 Indonesian
\ncouples on a waiting list to have their marriage registered on
\nthe island state.<\/p>\n
\"This is very disturbing. Marriage is part of human rights.
\nIt's my right to choose whom I marry,\" Albertus argued.<\/p>\n
He added that with the eventual introduction of the new civil
\nregistration law, \"the marriage law must be revised.\"<\/p>\n
The current marriage law, Albertus further contends, also
\ndiscriminates against nondenominational faiths such as the
\nConfucian and Baha'i faiths.<\/p>\n
Currently the Civil Registration Office refuses to acknowledge
\ncouples of nondenominational faiths, forcing couples to convert
\nto one of the religions recognized by the state: Islam, Hinduism,
\nBuddhism, Protestant and Catholicism.<\/p>\n
The consortium is funded by, among others, the United Nations
\nChildren's Fund (Unicef) and Plan International, and comprises of
\nnon-governmental organizations and government agencies.<\/p>\n
Its task is to reform the civil registry system in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Members include representatives from the National Commission
\non Human Rights, the Indonesian Antidiscrimination Movement, the
\nJakarta Legal Aid Institute, the Ministry of Religious Affairs
\nand the Ministry of Home Affairs.<\/p>\n
The consortium's work is prompted by concern that the Civil
\nRegistry is still based on four archaic Dutch laws which
\nsegregated residents in colonial Indonesia based on their race
\nand religion.<\/p>\n
\"These colonial laws are obsolete and discriminative. They
\nmust be changed,\" Albertus said referring to Staatsblads 1849,
\n1917, 1920 and 1933.<\/p>\n
Another change the consortium wishes to usher in with the new
\nbill is the allowance for foreigners to be married and registered
\nhere.<\/p>\n
\"If other countries allow Indonesian couples to get married in
\ntheir country, why shouldn't we? This is globalization and no one
\ncan stop that,\" Albertus remarked.<\/p>\n
The consortium also proposes that birth certificates for all
\nbabies born here be free of charge under a simplified process.<\/p>\n
A study by Unicef and Plan International indicates that 70
\npercent of children here do not have birth certificates.<\/p>\n
Currently the official fee for obtaining a birth certificate
\nis Rp 9,000.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/team-seeks-to-sanction-interfaith-marriages-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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