Religious freedom still restricted in RI: Report

Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Despite the constitutional guarantee of religious freedom, discrimination on the basis of religious belief is a cause for concern in this country, according to the United States' 2005 International Religious Freedom Report.

The report released by the U.S. State Department on Wednesday said that certain policies, laws and official actions had restricted religious freedom, and security authorities had occasionally tolerated discrimination against and abuse of religious groups by private actors.

"The (Indonesian) government continued to restrict the construction and expansion of houses of worship. It also maintained a ban on the use of private homes for worship unless the local community approved and a regional office of the home affairs ministry provided a license...," the report said.

Indonesia, a predominantly Muslim country, is one of 14 Asian countries tarred by the international report. The countries include China, Vietnam, India, Malaysia, Myanmar and North Korea.

The report also cited the recent forced closure of three churches in Jakarta and that of Catholic school Sang Timur in Tangerang, Banten.

Muslims have also reported difficulties in establishing mosques in the Muslim-minority provinces of Papua and North Sulawesi.

The State Department also reported that people who did not follow one of the five major religions recognized by the government often faced "official discrimination", such as not being issued official documents such as identity cards (KTPs) and birth certificates.

The report has sparked mixed reactions from religious organizations in Indonesia.

Muhammadiyah, the second largest Muslim organization in the country, denounced the report, saying developed countries had frequently released such reports in the name of human rights to ostracize developing countries, including Indonesia.

"We are not surprised. It is not strange for such a report to have been released by the State Department because they have their own interests. The abuse of human rights, including religious freedom, still occurs in that country. The discrimination against and the harassment of the minority group of Muslims still happens right under their noses," Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsudin told The Jakarta Post.

Din acknowledged that tension among religious communities had often occurred in this country, but said it was basically triggered by socioeconomic and political factors.

Secretary-general of the Bishops Council of Indonesia (KWI) Mgr. Ignatius Suharyo appreciated the report, saying religious freedom had remained a crucial issue in the country despite the amended 1945 Constitution, which guarantees all citizens the right to worship according to his or her religion or belief.

He cited the bombings of several churches between 2000 and 2002, the forced closure of Christian worship places in Jakarta and West Java and the difficulties experienced by minority groups in obtaining the necessary permits to set up houses of worship.

Suharyo, also archbishop of the Semarang diocese, said the key problems were the government's intervention in religious affairs and its failure to respect religious freedom.