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.