Official says Indonesia has freedom of religion

Official says Indonesia has freedom of religion

JAKARTA (JP): Past practices of prohibiting major religions
have been based on political motives and not theological
considerations as the state itself acknowledges the freedom of
all faiths, including Judaism.

"The government has never had a problem with the theological
teachings of any religion," the Ministry of Religious Affairs'
Research and Development Agency chief Djohan Effendy told The
Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

He added that recent limitations to the practice of
Confucianism was politically motivated by the previous government
in response to the 1965 abortive Communist coup.

He claimed that only one faith was officially banned for
theological reasons and that was Jehovah's Witnesses at the
demand of the Indonesia Communion of Churches.

Djohan stressed that such prohibitions were not related to the
Ministry of Religious Affairs but to the Ministry of Home Affairs
and the Attorney General's Office.

"It's all a matter of politics, not religion," he remarked.

When asked about the government's recognition of only five
religions, Djohan remarked that it was a long-held public
misperception that only Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Catholicism
and Protestantism were acknowledged by the state and others were
prohibited.

He contended that there has never been any written regulation
defining this.

"The only ruling that's ever mentioned the five main religions
was a regulation about identity cards (KTP), where people have to
choose between the five religions," he added, noting that it was
issued during Amir Machmud's tenure as home minister from 1973 to
1978.

According to Djohan, a presidential decision issued in 1962,
and enacted in 1967, states that six religions, including
Confucianism, were recognized and did no close the door on other
major faiths to develop here.

"It was written that Confucianism was included as the sixth
religion along with the other five," Djohan remarked.

He claimed that it was also cited that the Jewish religion was
also cited as an example of other faiths which may develop here.

Former Supreme Advisory Council member Junus Jahja told the
Post that he had also heard of the regulation.

"Whether it's real or not is no longer relevant. The
government no longer has authority to recognize (or ban) a
religion," Junus said, adding that it is also irrelevant to
demand a religion be listed on an identity card.

"What's the point of putting your religion on a KTP?" he
remarked.

Djohan also suggested the government relax rules requiring
permits when constructing places of worship.

He argued that if surrounding communities had no objection
then there should be no restriction to building one.

"If people want to build a brothel then they should ask for a
permit, but not for building houses of worship!" he remarked.(04)