The constitution is a basic law. In our constitution, the 1945 Constitution, the freedom to worship is guaranteed.
By
KOMPAS EDITOR
·3 minutes read
RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO
Stakes in the Bogor City Government asset land which was granted for the construction of the Yasmin Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) in West Cilendek, West Bogor, Bogor City, West Java, Sunday (13/6/2021). Bogor Mayor Bima Arya Sugiarto submitted evidence of a land grant from the Bogor City Government to be built into GKI Yasmin.
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo reiterated this on Tuesday (17/1/2023) while opening a coordination meeting of the Regional Leadership Communication Forum (Forkopimda) in Sentul, Bogor regency, West Java. The President underlined that the Constitution cannot be defeated by a regional agreement.
As a basic law that provides the basis of other legal outputs, it is clear that there is no legal output that may deviate from the 1945 Constitution. Such a rule is not allowed, let alone when it is merely an agreement created by a group of people in a region that obstructs the freedom to worship.
"There was an FKUB [Interfaith Communication Forum] meeting, for example, which agreed not to allow the construction of a place of worship. Be careful, you know our Constitution guarantees this," the President said.
Previously, the Setara Institute urged the Religious Affairs Minister and the Home Minister to strip the FKUB of its authority to provide written recommendations for the establishment of a house of worship. This was due to the continuing problems surrounding building permits (IMB) and disturbances involving houses of worship. According to the Setara Institute’s latest notes, which covered 2021, the 20 rejections were issued against the establishment of places of worship, 12 cases of attacks on places of worship, and up to 10 cases of destruction of places of worship.
President Jokowi’s affirmation sends a strong message to all regional leaders not to try and negate the substance of the country’s Constitution. The nation’s founders always upheld that freedom to worship was a basic right for any citizen. The denial of basic rights also means harming the ideals that established this nation.
MIS FRANSISKA DEWI
Children running towards the manger during the Family Christmas Mass at the Cathedral Church, Central Jakarta on Sunday (25/12/2022).
Such cases seem endless. Not too long ago, for example, we again heard that the establishment of the church had been rejected in the city of Cilegon, Banten. In fact, the establishment of Yasmin Church in the city of Bogor has just entered the final leg of a long and conflicted road.
From the case of Yasmin Church, we learned that dialogue is clearly one method of resolution. In addition, support from the Bogor Mayor was also needed to break the deadlocks that had occurred. That process did not take a short time, but years.
What frequently happens is that the big figures fight on the political stage, but the minorities are trampled at the grassroots.
We can also take a strong message from the President that the head of state supported the protection of minorities. The meaning of his message is very significant ahead of the political year, which is usually colored by friction during election campaigns.
This is because there are usually many major players or shadowy players who will play with identity politics against minorities. What frequently happens is that the big figures fight on the political stage, but the minorities are trampled at the grassroots.
