Menkumham: Indonesia And Britain Establish Cooperation In Religious Freedom At The World Level

JAKARTA - Minister of Law and Human Rights, Yasonna H Laoly said, the Indonesian government provides protection for human rights. In this diversity atmosphere, the government is here to provide legal certainty over the personal rights of freedom of the Indonesian people.

"Religious freedom in Indonesia is guaranteed and regulated in the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia article 28 E paragraph (1) and article 29 paragraph (2). In addition, Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 39 of 1999 concerning Human Rights also guarantees religious freedom as one of the rights to personal freedom in Article 22 paragraph (1) and (2)," said Yasonna H. Laoly before member of the British Parliament, total Bruce in his statement, Tuesday, July 25.

To Bruce, Yasonna explained, apart from Islam, there are also many other religions in Indonesia whose people live side by side peacefully and even take care of each other when they celebrate their big day.

"Such conditions can happen because Indonesia has Pancasila as the basis and ideology of the nation. Pancasila is able to become an umbrella that houses various religions, cultures and ethnicities in Indonesia so that the people respect diversity and tolerance between others," he said,

Yasonna continued, Pancasila is the ideology and basis of the state, which respects diversity, just and civilized humanity and maintains the unity of Indonesia.

"Pancasila teaches us to be free but responsible. Believe in the truth of their respective beliefs, but respect the beliefs of others so that people live in harmony, different but one as our motto, Bhineka Tunggal Ika," he said.

Yasonna hopes that the governments of Indonesia and Britain can work together to promote religious freedom, not only nationally but at a global level.

This is considering that Bruce is a special envoy of the British Prime Minister for Religious Freedom and Trust, as well as chairman of the International Alliance of Religious Freedom or Trust.

"Indonesia expects support and advice from Madam Bruce on how we can work together to promote religious freedom globally and nationally in our diverse society," he said.

Bruce said that the international community has recognized Indonesia's ability to protect religious freedom despite various challenges in the conditions of a pluralistic society.

For this reason, Indonesia is seen as having a central role related to human rights issues in the national and global context. Bruce hopes that the cooperation between Indonesia and the British parliament in the field of religious freedom will increase.