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Traditional belief followers demand recognition in Indonesia

Fate of the religion column on national ID cards sparks heated debate
Traditional belief followers demand recognition in Indonesia

Sundanese tribe members parade with freshly harvested fruits during a week-long traditional annual harvest ceremony known as 'Seren Taun' in the village of Cigugur, West Java province (AFP Photo/Romeo Gacad)

Published: November 12, 2014 07:50 AM GMT
Updated: November 11, 2014 07:50 PM GMT

Followers of indigenous religions in the predominantly Muslim country of Indonesia have called for recognition of their beliefs in the midst of a heated debate over whether or not the religion column on identity cards must be left blank for those who don’t follow officially recognized faiths.

The issue came up after newly appointed Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo said last week that citizens not adhering to one of the six recognized religions — Buddhism, Catholicism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam and Protestantism — should not necessarily be forced to list their beliefs on their identity cards.

There are about 200 unrecognized indigenous religions, or “traditional beliefs”, in the country.

“Traditional beliefs aren’t recognized by the government, and they are even called deviant sects,” said Jontek Permana Kurniawan, who adheres to the native Javanese animistic religion Kejawen.

“We only want to be recognized [by the government],” he said, adding that the government could never fully understand the situation faced by followers of indigenous beliefs.

Jontek has left the religion column on his identity card blank. “But some followers [of traditional beliefs] have religions adhered to by their parents, such as Islam, listed on their identity cards. It allows them to manage administrative matters more easily. In reality, they keep practicing their traditional belief,” he added.

Followers of Sunda Wiwitan, the native faith of the Sundanese people, face similar issues.

“Some followers leave the religion column on their identity cards blank, some just put dash marks, some have 'aliran kepercayan' (traditional belief) written in it, and some have tried many times to get recognition but always failed,” Dewi Kanti told ucanews.com.

“We want to make clear that we are fighting for our constitutional rights. Some say this is some kind of joke, some say this is not important. But for us, our traditional beliefs are our foundation,” she said.

“It has an impact on the social order. For example, there is a stigma that we don’t have a God,” she said.

Leaving the column for religion on identity cards blank would mean that discrimination remained, she added. “Do we have to face different treatment?”

Slamet Effendy Yusuf, the executive council chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama — the largest Islamic organization in the country — said the issue became widespread following the minister’s remarks and was not because of the difficulty faced by followers of traditional beliefs in listing their faiths on identity cards.

“The government should hold on to the existing law. Don’t trigger reactions. Don’t lead the issue to the removal of the religion column on identity cards because it will give an opportunity for anyone to not adhere to a certain religion,” he told ucanews.com.

According to Article 64 of the 2013 law on population administration, identity cards should include elements of citizens’ data including religion, and the religion column should be left blank for citizens whose religions are not yet recognized and for followers of traditional beliefs.

“Therefore, the religion column on identity cards must be filled in. Should it be a religion? Well, we have agreed that Indonesia is a state which is based on Pancasila [five principles]. We are not a secular state,” Slamet added.

Pancasila, enshrined in the preamble of the 1945 constitution, stipulates belief in one God, a just and civilized society, a united Indonesia, democracy guided by consensus, and social justice for all.

Slamet also suggested that the government should immediately conduct a consultation between related officials and also with religious leaders so as to draft a new regulation. “It aims to prevent the birth of religious anarchism,” he said.

Bonar Tigor Naipospos, deputy chief of the Jakarta-based Setara Institute, said that leaving religion on identity cards blank will have a huge impact on society.

“For example, a person can only marry someone with the same religion. If religion on identity cards is left blank, what is their status then? Another issue is education. So far children of followers of traditional beliefs are ‘forced’ to choose one recognized religion as schools only provide teachers from six recognized religions,” he told ucanews.com.

According to Naipospos, listing religion on identity cards should be removed. “Or the government should list all religions and traditional beliefs on identity cards,” he said.

“What is the urgency of listing religion? What kind of public services are related to religions? Health care service, no. Education, no. Development, no. Legal advocacy, no.”

He suggested the government should rely on the existing law.

“Still, we need to keep raising the issue that the law has a discriminative element. The best way would be a revision."

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