Jakarta, Jakarta – Indonesia's educational and civil registration systems violate the constitutional right to freedom of religion of people who follow faiths not recognized by the government, the nation's human rights commission says.
National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) researcher Yossa Nainggolan said many people who do not subscribe to the six official religions – Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Confucianism – were uneasy since they could not perform "normal" daily activities due to their beliefs.
"Unrealized social and political rights adversely affect the realization of other rights pertaining to society, economics, education and health," he said.
Komnas HAM conducted research between Oct. 2008 and Feb. 2009 in six regencies: Blora and Solo, Central Java; Sukabumi and Tasikmalaya, West Java and Tangerang and Lebak, Banten.
Its final research report documented several cases where people experienced indirect religious coercion, such as the forced "adoption" of a recognized religion, when registering for schools or to be married. The report also said there was religious coercion in the work and health sectors in three provinces, as well.
In one case, a local registry office failed to grant a marriage license to a couple who were members of the Sunda Wiwitan faith. The couple's children were unable to obtain birth certificates, which complicated their enrollment in school.
"They had to admit that they belonged to an officially recognized religion for the sake of paperwork," Yossa said.
The report indicates that the government has poorly implemented what the constitution has mandated, Komnas HAM representative Hesti Armiwulan said.
"The problem is that state officials are unaware of people's freedom to worship in accordance with their religion and faith," she said. "We must demand that the government proactively create awareness within their officials so that citizen rights are completely fulfilled."
Fifteen women with religious beliefs outside the six official religions experienced discrimination at school and were "interrogated" due to their beliefs, the report said, including twelve women in Tangerang municipality.
Religious issues have been smoldering in Tangerang, which enacted a "public order" bylaw that prohibited women from walking the streets at night without chaperones. Representatives of the Jakarta Baptist Christian Church (GKBJ) in Pisangan, Tangerang said its Sunday masses were disrupted by Islamic organizations in 2009.
The commission recommended that the government revise the law on blasphemy, which was a reference for the 1974 marriage law; the 2006 Population Administration Law and the 2003 National Education Law.
Hesti said that the commission would soon share its findings and recommendations to Commission III of the House of Representatives but did not specify a date.
"The commission's mandate is limited to giving recommendations. To strengthen our position, we will partner with Commission III so they will forward our recommendations to the government," she added.
Fulfillment of religious rights for everyone will require more than amending laws since the idea that there are only five religions has been "embedded in daily life", she said.
"The marriage law, for example, was enacted in 1974, reflecting that such perspectives have existed a long time," she added. (gzl)