AsiaNews, 20 November, 2006
Religion to remain on ID cards
This was confirmed by political parties and the government despite protests by
minorities. Christian and Muslim representatives have denounced what they perceive
as the political intention to use faith to gain mileage without considering the risk of
fuelling division.
Jakarta (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Indonesia's House of Representatives and
government have agreed to continue listing one's religion on identity cards. Members
of different faiths have criticized the agreement as a violation of fundamental human
rights and myopic political opportunism.
On 16 November, the House announced the deal in the context of wider parliamentary
debate on a civil registry bill. Indicating one's faith on identity cards has long been a
source of discrimination against followers of religions different from the six faiths
recognized by Jakarta: Islam, Catholicism, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism and
Confucianism.
The Muslim scholar, Buddhy Munawar Rachman of Paramadhina University, said this
was a violation "of the freedom of each citizen to embrace or not to embrace religion".
He continued: "Politicians are well aware that religions constitute the single most
important attribute by which the people identify themselves and they play the religion
card to garner as much support as possible." But this encourages division, since
people then start thinking of themselves as "part of a larger community built on the
foundation of religion rather than citizenship" of a nation.
Catholic priest, Fr Antonius Benny Susetyo, secretary of the Commission for Interfaith
Affairs of the Indoensian Bishops' Council, was also critical. He accused politicians of
pursuing immediate self-interest rather than the good of the nation. He said the
political use of religion led to exalting its trivial aspects rather than the essential
issues, like greater charity and piety.
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