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West Java Catholics have faith in Muslim mayor

Bekasi mayor Rahmat Effendi will guarantee freedom of religion in Indonesia's former hotbed of radicalism, they say
West Java Catholics have faith in Muslim mayor

Indonesian Muslim men march during a protest against a Christian church in Bekasi, West Java in this March 21, 2013 file photo. (Photo by Adek Berry/AFP)

Published: June 25, 2018 04:39 AM GMT
Updated: June 25, 2018 04:40 AM GMT

It took more than 17 years for St. Clara Church to get its permit and final approval from the municipal authorities in Bekasi, West Java.

One of those who fought hard to get support from local Muslims was Antonius Giri Martanto, who now sits on the parish council. He said it was quite an ordeal.

To legally build a church in Indonesia one requirement is to win approval from local Muslims, which means gathering at least 60 signatures as an endorsement of support.

"Intolerant groups, however accused us of many things to stop us being becoming legal, including forging the signatures," he told ucanews.com.

As a result local Catholics' efforts to build a church dragged on for years.

However, they were rewarded when the Mayor of Bekasi, Rahmat Effendi, finally approved the permit in 2015. It paved the way for the construction of the church and other facilities.

Effendi, 54, was elected mayor in 2013, but despite harboring hopes of change, Catholics were also wary because previous mayors were not willing to defy hardliners.

Luckily, Effendi was made of sterner stuff and "looked into our appeals personally and led the signature verification team," Martanto said.

He wanted to know every detail of the permit application process to make sure it abided by a 2006 joint ministerial decree on the establishment of worship places, which stipulated the 60-signature rule.

He discovered that the original signatures collected by church officials in 1999 were valid, not fabricated as claimed by hard-line groups.

However, even as construction of St. Clara Church began, groups such as the notorious Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) continued to protest. During a protest in March 2017, several people were injured, including five policemen.

Effendi confronted the hardliners and defended the church, saying it would be better to shoot him rather than demand he revoke the permit.

That commitment won the overwhelming support of Catholics, according to Martanto, adding that they will be fully behind him in upcoming elections on June 27.

Bekasi has a population of 2.4 million, mostly Muslims, while Protestants comprise 196,000 and Catholics about 71,000, of which 9,400 go to St. Clara Church.

 

Against the odds

Two years ago, according to a study by the Setara Institute for Democracy and Peace, Bekasi ranked second worst, or 93rd on a list of 94 of Indonesia's most intolerant cities. 

Bogor, also in West Java province was the worst.

However, Effendi has transformed the city's bad image.

Last year Bekasi's ranking improved significantly, coming in at 53, while nearby Jakarta dropped due to Muslim protests against former Christian governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama.

According to Walili, a researcher at the Setara Institute, the improvement was down to Effendi who stood up to defend the constitutional rights of the people.

Defending the rights of the St. Clara Catholics was a bold move considering the level of intolerance minority religions faced by hardliners who wanted to make Bekasi a kota santri, or Muslim city, he said.

Many more local leaders like are needed, he added.

Since being elected mayor, Effendi has pledged to make Bekasi a city of tolerance and peace, and eliminate the oppression by the majority over minorities.

According to Effendi "diversity is irresistible and everyone must accept and live with it."

Last year the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) presented him with an award his for his "unceasing efforts to transform Bekasi into a multi-religious friendly city."

Abdul Manan, head of the local chapter of the Interfaith Harmony Forum also praised Effendi for transforming the city and educating people about diversity.

Reverend Pati Stefanus Ginting of the Synod of Gospel Churches of Indonesia, said Effendi is a true leader who wants to serve and make all people safe.

"Effendi once said that he is like a bus driver, who does not ask people's ethnic, race or religion when he picks them up, but just drives them to their destination," he said.

Christians in Bekasi are backing mayor, Rahmat Effendi, to win a second term in upcoming polls. (Photo by Emanuel Dapa Loka)

 

Islam for all

Effendi says he steadfastly defends Indonesia's pluralistic society because it is a God-given reality for its people.

He said public office to him is a means to promote the so-called Islam of rahmattan lil alami, or Islam for all mankind.

"My conviction is that the Prophet Muhammad was asked by God to mend the broken behavior of people, and this applies even up to now," said Effendi.

"He inspires me to continue to stand for something fundamental for other people."

He strongly criticized other Muslims who think that they are better than others and take the law into their hands, which he said were acts of anarchy.

 

Supported by nationalist parties

On June 27, about 160 million Indonesians will head to the polls to elect 17 new governors as well as more than 150 district heads and mayors.

Effendi is seeking a second term and many issues such as unemployment, education and poverty need to be addressed.

But for Christians, freedom of religion is a major concern and they are pinning their hopes on Effendi who is supported by parties defending pluralism, including the Golkar Party and President Joko Widodo's Indonesian Democratic Struggle Party (PDIP)

His rival, however, is supported by more Islamic-centered groups, such as the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), led by former presidential candidate, Prabowo Subiyanto.

In May, the PKS was accused of harboring extremists.

Besides electing a new mayor, voters in Bekasi will also elect new West Java governor. The province is known as a stronghold for conservative and radical Muslims, and recorded the most acts of intolerance in Indonesia according to a 2016 study by the Wahid Foundation.

Martanto said Christians in Bekasi hope the new governor will be like Effendi and transform the province into a more tolerant society.

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