Nondenominational faiths put in religious affairs

JAKARTA (JP): The People's Consultative Assembly ad hoc committee deliberating the draft 1998/2003 State Policy Guidelines agreed yesterday to admit the controversial issue of nondenominational faiths in the religious affairs section.

The approval, reached after grueling debate, will mean a review of the 1993/1998 policy guidelines which places the faiths under the education and cultural section.

Committee member Muhammad Buang of the United Development Party (PPP) faction said after yesterday's session that the inclusion of the faiths was intended to prevent them from becoming new religions or religious teachings.

"The future policy guidelines will confirm that the faiths are not religions and will suggest that the government control their growth. In the long run, we want followers of the faiths to eventually share one of the five religions," Buang said.

Indonesia recognizes only Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Buddhism and Hinduism as the official religions.

PPP persistently challenged the plan to include nondenominational faiths in the religious development section as sponsored by dominant faction Golkar. PPP finally accepted Golkar's motion with the condition that it be noted that the faiths are not religions and its followers must be "guided" to eventually embrace one of the five recognized faiths.

The compromise was apparently such a relief that Golkar's representative in the deliberation, Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, traded kisses with PPP deputy chairwoman Aisyah Amini outside the session room after hearing the news.

Committee chairman R. Hartono and Buang joined the duo, laughing loudly before the watchful eyes of dozens of reporters.

It was later discovered that Hartono's presence in the spontaneous little celebration was to ask for Buang's signature of approval on behalf of PPP. Buang represents the Moslem-based faction in the deliberation which will last until Jan. 23 next year.

Buang and Hardiyanti told reporters that several minor issues dealing with nondenominational faiths required further deliberation.

Another Golkar representative, Quraish Shihab, hailed the Assembly's decision to include the faiths in religious development.

"Followers of the faiths are like naughty children who need guidance from their parents, so that they won't go astray," said Shihab, rector of the state-run Syarif Hidayatullah Islamic Institute.

All of the five factions in the Assembly also agreed that school children and students will receive religious education according to their respective religions.

Currently, religious-oriented schools and universities teach their students one compulsory religious subject, regardless of the students' faith.

In religious affairs, the 1998/2003 State Policy Guidelines, if passed, will order the President to draw up a bill on haj affairs to end irregularities that have marred the administration of the Moslem pilgrimage.

Buang said the Assembly committee was negotiating a Golkar offer to introduce a section on human rights protection, rather than accepting the motions of PPP and fellow minority faction the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) to establish a separate decree.

"Everything can be negotiated through a friendly deliberation. We will work together for the best decision," he said.

The other Assembly committee in charge of nonstate policy guidelines is also deliberating the motion on the human rights charter. (amd)