Religious harmony law

Religious harmony law

From Koran Tempo

Indonesia's pluralistic society badly needs a law on religious harmony because the existing rules on coexistence among religious groups impose no penalties, which has led to serious communal conflicts.

The regulations governing this aspect of national life are still in the form of decrees from the Minister of Religious Affairs and joint decrees from the Minister of Religious Affairs and the Minister of Home Affairs.

A law would raise the status of such regulations and the imposition of penalties will increase the force of the law. Penalties would deter belligerent groups from resorting to burning buildings of worship.

The formulation of this law should be discussed with an open mind and without negative prejudice. At a workshop held by the religious affairs ministry's research and development agency, most participants agreed with this idea.

NUHRISON Tangerang, Banten