Djemi Amnifu, Kupang – Kupang has initiated the development of "Kampung Toleransi Beragama" (religious tolerance village) in the Transad area, Naibonat subdistrict, Kupang Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) in response religious-based violence in several parts of the country.
The construction of four different houses of worship – a mosque, Catholic church, Protestant church and Hindu temple – has been started in a single location in Transad village.
Transad community leader Anselmus Djogo said 4.64 hectares had been provided by the government for the construction of four houses of worship – 1.65 hectares for the mosque, and a hectare each for the Protestant and Catholic churches and Hindu temple.
Anselmus added that the project, which commenced on June 12, this year, was marked with a ground-breaking ceremony by Protestant, Catholic, Islamic, Buddhist and Hindu leaders, as well as the 161 Wirasakti Military Command chief. "The architecture of the houses of worship would consider the local culture," he said.
The Naibonat religious tolerance village is located in the center of Oelamasi, the capital city of Kupang regency, 35 kilometers from Kupang, the capital of the province.
Kupang regency chapter Indonesia Ulema Council (MUI) head Jamaluddin Mustafa voiced his appreciation to the Kupang regency administration and the military command for initiating the project.
"We must maintain religious tolerance, which has been well established in Kupang regency. The construction of the four houses of worship in a single location is an achievement of religious tolerance in NTT, especially in Kupang – There is no such thing as a minority or majority among religious communities in the regency," Jamaluddin told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
He added that NTT, which is predominantly Christian, had become a role model and example for other regions in Indonesia in terms of religious harmony, as there was never any friction among religious communities.
"The construction of the four houses of worship in a single area [...] has further proven that religious harmony is not just a slogan. Kupang regency has proven that religious harmony has been achieved among the communities," said Jamaluddin.
According to him, it was not easy to establish harmony among religious communities without a common wish for peace.
He added that maintaining and improving inter-religious communication had been carried out through the Kupang regency's Inter-religious Harmony Forum (FKUB), which is often used by religious communities for social and religious activities.Kupang Regent Ayub Titu Eki said he was touched by of the joint construction of the four houses of worship in Naibonat subdistrict because the wish came from the community, so the government provided full support.
Besides that, said Ayub, it was also part of a challenge for the Kupang regency administration to achieve religious tolerance in the regency.
"The tolerance village will not mean anything when in reality the religious communities are against each other. What do we wish to be proud of? This tolerance village has instead become a challenge for us to live in harmony and not fight against each other, because we are brothers," said Ayub.
He cited the recent Tolikara incident in Papua, in which several kiosks and a mosque were burned down, as a valuable lesson for people to ensure harmony among religious communities.
Kupang regency Religious Affairs Office head Yorhans Lopies expressed his support for the joint construction of the places of worship. He, however, said the project should still comply with existing regulations.
"Kupang regency has a population of 344,000, of which 80 percent are Protestant, 15 percent are Catholic, 2 percent are Muslim and 0.02 percent are Hindu or Buddhist," said Yorhans.
Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/08/22/kupang-initiates-kampung-toleransi.html