Hera Diani, Jakarta – A revised version of a controversial ministerial decree on the establishment of places of worship has won grudging acceptance from minority religious groups, who say they have little choice in the matter.
These groups say all they can do is rely on the goodwill of the government in handling the delicate matter of issuing building permits for houses of worship once the decree is passed.
The joint ministerial decree, originally issued in 1969 by the home and religious affairs ministries, requires the consent of local administrations and residents before a place of worship can be built. Under the revised regulation, this basic requirement will be maintained, with several new prerequisites for construction being added.
As part of the new decree, the Communication Forum for Religious Harmony, made up of representatives from the major religions in the country, will be established to provide recommendations to local administrations on new houses of worship and to oversee construction.
The decree sets the minimum number of congregants for a new place of worship at 100, with construction requiring the approval of at least 70 local residents of faiths other than that of the congregation of the proposed house of worship.
Representatives of religious minority groups involved in the revision process said there was not unanimous agreement on the revisions, despite the claims of Religious Affairs Minister M. Maftuh Basyuni.
"Details on legal protection, the composition of the forum and its responsibilities, and other details have yet to be worked out. Even with the minimum number of congregants, it was said to be 90 at our last meeting," said Benny Susetyo, executive secretary of the Bishops Council of Indonesia's Commission for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs.
He said that in the revised decree, if the requirement on the minimum number of congregants was met, but a proposed house of worship was unable to secure the approval of residents, the government would be obliged to provide an alternative facility for the congregation.
"But this point has never been made public for some reason. Nor has it been synchronized with other articles. Which of the articles will apply has never been discussed.
"The most important thing for us is legal certainty. Everything must be in accordance with state ideology and the Constitution. If local administrations refuse to grant a permit (for the construction of a house of worship), then they have violated the Constitution," he said.
Weinata Sairin of the Indonesian Communion of Churches said his organization wanted the decree to be more accommodating in approving new places of worship.
The group proposed the minimum number of congregants be put at 60, with the approval of 40 locals of other faiths being sufficient.
"We have yet to reach an agreement. Don't set targets just to ensure the decree is passed. This issue is too big and sensitive to be rushed," he said.
Soedjito Kusumo of the Council of Buddhist Communities said his group had proposed no limit on the number of congregants required for approval.
"But for the sake of religious harmony, we accept the decree. If we are limited in some regions, maybe the regulation will be in our favor in other regions. We believe in good karma and bad karma," he said.
Agus Mantik of the Indonesian Hindu Religious Council said the group was extremely aware of its position as a religious minority, and thus accepted the decree.
"Within a democratic country, there should be regulations. Every party must give up some of their individual rights. It's not the decree that encourages violence against people of other religions, but a weak government that cannot control (hard-line) groups," he said.