Religious Tolerance In Indonesia Still Worth Questioning

JAKARTA The incident of disbanding the worship of a number of students from Pamulang University, South Tangerang became a byword. The tolerance between religious communities in Indonesia was again questioned.

Since yesterday, videos of residents disbanding worship activities held by students in South Tangerang have gone viral on social media. From the video upload, it shows a group of students allegedly ganged up and persecuted during worship. Before being disbanded by residents, students who were in one house were said to be doing Rosario's prayer.

"Last night the Pamulang University Catholic students gathered at a house in Victor Serpong and prayed Rosario, but they were raided by Mr. RT and the residents who brought the knife to disperse and beat the students who were praying. Luckily there were no casualties," the video said.

Sampe kapan kalian bersikap primitif kaya begini yaa, la wong kegiatan Doa Maria itu baik, bukan sebuah kejahatan tapi kalian datangi pake golok. Itu Ketua RT Diding mukanya yg kaya gimana sih ?? Mau liat gw modelan tampangnya 😤Ini katanya di wilayah Setu, Tangsel yaa? pic.twitter.com/x3yWQhYHcE

— Bobby Risakotta 🔥 (@bobby_risakotta) May 6, 2024

"When did you become such primitives, yes, I said Maria's prayer activities were good, not a crime, but you came to me with a machete. What about the head of the RT Diding's rich face? Want to see me modeling his appearance, "This is what he said in the Setu area, South Tangerang ya? pic.twitter.com/x3yWQhyHcE

The Head of Cisauk Police, AKP Dhady Arsya, said the reason residents disbanded the worship activities held by students in South Tangerang. He explained that the action was taken because residents had not completed the worship process even though they had been reminded. This incident occurred on Sunday (5/5/2024), at around 21.00 WIB.

"Sudah diingatkan dengan tokoh sekitar, sama RT, untuk disbandasi ternyata belum bubar juga," ujar dia kepada wartawan, Senin (6/5/2024).

Incidents of disbandment of worship activities do not only occur once or twice. In Indonesia, although it is known as a tolerant nation, the facts on the ground sometimes explain the opposite. The dissolution of worship activities carried out by local residents in South Tangerang is only a small part of other intolerant stories in this country.

Two men, one of whom was named Imam Mulyana, came to the house of a resident of Rawa Sentul Village RT 01 / RW 04 Jayamukti Village, Central Cikarang District, Bekasi Regency, named Jamin Sihombing who was a Christian. The incident occurred in April 2020, when the COVID-19 virus was violent in attacking Indonesia and even around the world.

At that time the owner of the house was holding worship. Imam entered and was angry with a loud tone. Jamin Sihombing explained that worship activities were carried out at home because there was a Large-Scale Social Restriction (PSBB) policy from the government.

A religious organization on behalf of Defender Ahlu Sunnah (PAS) held a demonstration against holding a service activity at the Sabuga Building, Bandung, in November 2016. Quoted by Antara, the PAS group demanded that the organizers move religious activities to houses of worship, not in public facilities.

Halili, Director of Research at the SETARA Institute, NGOs who research and advocate for democratic, political and human rights issues, assesses that many cases of intolerance in Indonesia occur because of the majority character who like to intimidate minorities.

"The virus of intolerance and discrimination is no less dangerous than corona. Because it not only endangers human security, but can also damage our social order and peace," he said, after the incident in Bekasi two years ago.

According to Halili, diversity and unity are the basis of the state that must be translated by all government officials, including those who are at the village or neighborhood level. He assessed that so far the government has failed to ensure that its officials carry out the principles of diversity.

"The government must ensure that officials from the top structure to the bottom have a solid perspective of diversity," said Halili.

Halili continued, the meritocracy approach can be a solution to the neglect of government officials on issues of intolerance.

"Structural sanctions are needed for officials who practice intolerance. They can be transferred or other punishments. Maybe government officials never coordinate with each other about the harmony of the citizens," he said.

Violence motivated by intolerance also occurred in Papua during Lebaran 2015. At that time there was a riot when Muslims held Eid prayers in Karubaga, Tolikara. A group of people from the Evangelical Church in Indonesia (GIDI) forcibly dispersed the Eid prayer congregation who was starting worship.

The riots were out of control even though the security forces had disbanded, resulting in a number of stalls and places of worship being burned down. As a result of this incident, one person died and 11 others were injured.

Not to mention the issue of an agreement between residents in Karet Hamlet, Pleret, Bandung, Yogyakarta, rejecting non-Muslim residents living in their villages. Reportedly, the existence of the regulation has been in effect since 2015.

However, the agreement was canceled after a resident named Slamet Junniarto, who is a Catholic, questioned it. Slamet is not allowed by Karet residents to settle in the hamlet because they do not embrace Islam.

Upgrading and carrying out the constitution is an obligation as a citizen. Therefore, all Indonesian people must carry out these obligations and comply with applicable laws and regulations, including guaranteeing the independence of every population to embrace religion and worship according to the religion they embrace.

Citing the website of the Ministry of Religion, religious institutions that prohibit violence against other religious people who are worshiping, can be considered to be harassing the constitution. This is because the prohibition of worship, especially those that lead to violence, clearly violates the constitution. Those who are proven to do so must be legally responsible.

"The parties, both individuals and institutions, who are proven to have done such things not only violate human rights guaranteed by the 1945 Constitution, but have also undermined the foundations of religious living harmony buildings," said Minister of Religion Lukman Hakim Saifuddin in 2015.