Article 29 and religious harmony

The Annual Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) has been concluded. Billions of rupiah were spent to organize this event.

One of the heated debates in this Annual Session was about Article 29 of the 1945 Constitution. A number of Islamic parties proposed the amendment of this article by supplementing it with words found in the Jakarta Charter. This proposal enjoyed the support of Islamic organizations rallying outside the MPR building, for example Hizbu Thahrir, the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) and Hizbollah.

It has been recorded in history that the Indonesian people, made up of various ethnic groups, religions and languages, have agreed not to establish a state based upon religion and have made Pancasila, the state ideology, the basic norm of the Indonesian nation, a people believing in unity in diversity. Likewise, the founding fathers of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia and the majority of the Indonesian people have agreed not to establish a state based upon religion.

This agreement must be maintained in view of the great pluralism of cultures and traditions in Indonesia. Incorporating religion in a constitution is dangerous because it can lead to national disintegration and trigger social conflicts.

So, all Indonesians must realize that they live side by side with one another and that they must stay away from ideals that could lead to national disintegration.

Religion and conviction are matters that an individual deals directly with God. Clearly Article 29 of the 1945 Constitution is a fixed agreement and fosters religious harmony within a Pancasila-based unitary state, which must not be tinkered with any more.

GUTOMO MAHENDRA

Malang, East Java