Arya Dipa, Bandung – Candidates in the West Java gubernatorial election seem to have ducked the question of religious intolerance and radicalism despite the province's poor reputation on the matter.

The Wahid Institute recorded that the number of cases of intolerance and violations against religious freedom have increased from 57 cases in 2010 to 128 in 2011. There were 102 cases in 2012.

The institute's head of monitoring and advocacy, M. Subhi Azhari, said that West Java had the highest number of violations of religious freedom and intolerance.

The candidates have not offered many solutions during the current campaign period, which ends Wednesday. Intolerance and violations of religious freedom are not staple campaign material to attract votes from the West Java population, which is predominantly Muslim.

Incumbent Deputy Governor Dede Yusuf Macan Effendi said he would build communication with religious leaders to solve the problems. "Staying in West Java means staying in an area that is peaceful, harmonious and conducive for investment," he said.

The former actor said he had mapped the potential for religion-related conflict in the province. "The key is good relations," he said. Dede is part of the provincial administration that issued West Java Gubernatorial Decree No. 12/2011 banning Ahmadiyah propagation activities in the province.

His competitor and boss, incumbent Governor Ahmad Heryawan, said the policy was made to prevent arbitrary or violent actions against Ahmadiyah followers.

Heryawan said the police should help to maintain religious tolerance. Another way, he said, was to maximize the Interfaith Communication Forum (FKUB). "Most of the problems are about the construction of houses of worship. If all parties understand the prevailing law, there will be no problem," he said.

Many of the problems of constructing churches, for example, are related to building permits, which such establishments have yet to acquire before starting their worshipping activities. The incumbent governor added that it was also important to increase the school participation numbers and people's welfare.

Meanwhile, House of Representatives member Rieke Diah Pitaloka said that there should be a multiple-pronged approach to solve the problem. It includes communication to build understanding between religious groups through to improvement of the people's economic condition.

Rieke said that she would build food security in West Java by maximizing all potential. "If the people reach a satisfactory welfare level, they will not conduct outrageous actions," said the only female gubernatorial candidate.

Deputy governor candidate Tatang Fahanul Hakim said that the problems of intolerance and radicalism in West Java could be solved if society understood their religions.

Political observer and dean of the School of Social Sciences at the Indonesian Education University, Karim Suryadi, said the issues would haunt every governor in the province.

"Because there is a difference of understanding between the public and the media," Karim said Monday. The public may not consider such debates in the media as a problem, he added.

So, according to him, West Java leaders should be firm in responding to the differences in understanding. He deemed that all candidates had yet to provide a clear understanding on how to resolve the cases of religious intolerance.

"Every one of them say they will accommodate all the differences, but concrete actions remain unclear," said Karim.

Religious intolerance cases in West Java 2012-2013

• Jan. 27, 2013, Bandung: Members of Islamic organizations forbid around 200 members of the Banua Niho Keriso Protestan (BNKP) church to conduct Sunday services. Dharma Zebua, a BNKP administrator, said that his congregation had obtained the relevant recommendation and permit from the Bandung Kidul district office to use the house for religious activities.

• Oct. 25, 2012, Bandung: Members of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) damage An-Nasir mosque and prohibit Ahmadis from celebrating Idul Adha.

• Aug. 6, 2012, Bogor: Public Order Agency officers seal off the St. Johannes Catholic Church due to permit issues. Since 2007, the church had submitted all documents necessary for the building permit, but the administration always rejected the application.

• April 20, 2012, Tasikmalaya: Hundreds of FPI members attack the Baiturahman Mosque belonging to Ahmadiyah followers. Nine are injured.

• March 16, 2012, Indramayu: The church on Jl. Cimanuk, Indramayu, is shot at 20 times by unidentified men. No one died or was injured.

• Feb. 17, 2012, Cianjur: A crowd of about 50 people vandalize Nur Hidayah Mosque used by 200 Ahmadiyah followers.