Education bill continues to divide Indonesians
Education bill continues to divide Indonesians
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The controversial education bill continues to divide people,
causing fear of sectarian conflict if legislators press ahead
with plans to endorse the bill on May 20.
Thousands of demonstrators opposed to the bill scuffled with
police in Ende, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), on Sunday when they
attempted to force their way into the town's airport, hours
before House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung was due to
arrive.
The protesters, including elementary school students and
members of the Indonesian Catholic Students Association and the
National Students League for Democracy, demanded that the bill be
scrapped because it "discriminated against minority groups".
They also carried posters saying that Flores, a Catholic-
majority island in NTT, would declare independence if the
government enacted the bill.
The protesters dispersed peacefully after meeting with Akbar,
who also chairs the Golkar Party, the second largest faction in
the House.
Akbar arrived in Ende, a traditional Golkar stronghold, for a
two-day visit, which will include a meeting with victims of last
month's landslides.
In Jakarta, dozens of women from the Islamic Women's Center
called on the House to endorse the education bill, saying
justice, pluralism and human rights would be strengthened with
its enactment.
Djuairiah Latuconsina of the center said religion played a
vital role in the development of children, thus it should be
taught to students by teachers of the same religion.
"Otherwise, there will be deviations in religious teachings,"
she said.
The conflict stems from an article in the bill requiring all
schools, regardless of religious affiliation, to provide
religious instruction to all students. Religious lessons, the
bill states, must be taught by teachers of the same religion as
students.
If enacted, the bill would affect Catholic and Protestant
schools more than Muslim schools, with more Muslims studying in
Christian schools than Christians in Muslim schools.
Christian schools generally require all students, regardless
of their religion, to attend Christian lessons. Likewise, Muslim
schools teach only Islam and require all students, including
Christians, to attend Islamic classes.
Some experts have expressed concern that the bill, if enacted,
would divide Indonesians and could trigger religious violence.
Sectarian conflicts in Maluku and Central Java have left over
10,000 people dead since January 1999.
Some people in provinces like NTT, North Sulawesi, Maluku and
Papua with large Christian populations have threatened to seek
independence if the House presses ahead with its plan to endorse
the bill on May 20 to coincide with National Awakening Day.