Jakarta – The government will give authority to existing interfaith forums to issue permits for the establishment of places of worship, a move that is expected to help end conflict in the setting up of houses of worship. The interfaith forum is an independent grouping of leaders from various faiths set up at a regional level with a mission to settle religion-related disputes.

The decision to give the forum greater authority was made during a meeting of top government officials on Wednesday at the Ministry of Home Affairs. The officials, including Minister of Home Affairs M. Ma'ruf, Attorney General Abdul Rahman Saleh, Minister of Religious Affairs M. Maftuh Basyuni as well as Minister of Justice and Human Rights Hamid Awaluddin, gathered to finalize a revision to the 1969 joint ministerial decree, which stipulates that those wanting to establish houses of worship must obtain approval from local administrations and get the consent of residents.

Christians, a small minority in this country, consider the decree to have created difficulties for them in setting up churches, particularly in predominantly Muslim regions. Controversy over the decree has emerged following recent actions by Muslim hard-liners in closing down Christian houses of worship in West Java that do not possess the necessary permits. The actions have been strongly criticized by both Christian and Muslim leaders, and prompted the government to revise the controversial decree.

"The establishment of a house of worship in an area will consider the opinion of interfaith leaders. It will be done by the FKUB. Local administration heads would only coordinate it," Ma'ruf told reporters after the meeting, referring to the acronym for interfaith forums.

He said that the government would stipulate the role of the interfaith forum in the revised circular, which is expected to be finalized later this month.

"Currently, we have FKUB in all regions. But, the (existing) decree does not involve them. There will be a mechanism between authorities in the Ministry of Religious Affairs, local administrations and the interfaith forum in a certain area," Ma'ruf said.

Local administration heads will also be given a role in "maintaining interfaith harmony" by coordinating the interfaith forum and the religious affairs agencies in the regions.

The minister said that the revision to the decree was necessary because it was quite outdated. "The decree was made in 1969. Now, we are in the era of decentralization and regional autonomy. We expect a kind of delegation by governors and regents or mayors to the village level."

The decree, signed 24 years ago by then minister of religious affairs Moh. Dahlan and home minister Amir Machmud has been blamed for the closure of several Christian houses of worship recently.

Ma'ruf said that the revisions to the joint ministerial decree would not be subject to multiple interpretations and would be made in order to protect the rights of citizens to carry out their religious activities.