MENGAPA TIDAK ADA RUMAH IBADAH AGAMA LAIN DI CILEGON? | Eps 66

Summary

The video discusses the lack of religious freedom in Cilegon, a city in Banten, Indonesia, despite the country’s constitutional guarantee of religious liberty. While Cilegon is known for its industrial significance, it has become an anomaly due to the absence of places of worship for non-Muslim communities. The video highlights the challenges faced by religious minorities in the city, focusing on failed attempts to build churches, governmental resistance, and societal rejection. It emphasizes the tension between the city’s industrial progress and its lack of pluralism, illustrating a broader issue of religious intolerance.

Takeaways

• 😀 Indonesia's Constitution guarantees religious freedom for all citizens, but the implementation of this freedom is questioned in certain regions.
• 😀 Cilegon, a city in Banten, is a prime example of the religious freedom issue, as it lacks places of worship for non-Muslim communities despite its diverse population.
• 😀 Cilegon, known as the steel city, is home to many different ethnic and religious groups, yet it has no churches, temples, or Buddhist temples.
• 😀 The government’s failure to support the construction of religious facilities for non-Muslims has placed Cilegon at the bottom of tolerance indices for multiple years.
• 😀 The historical background of Cilegon's industrialization, particularly the establishment of Krakatau Steel in the 1960s, is tied to local cultural tensions and the denial of religious minority rights.
• 😀 A controversial agreement in 1962 between religious leaders and industrialists in Cilegon blocked the establishment of non-Muslim places of worship, fueling ongoing religious tensions.
• 😀 The city has seen numerous attempts by Christian communities to build places of worship, but each effort has been blocked by local residents, religious groups, and authorities.
• 😀 The SKB (Joint Ministerial Decree) requires 90 signatures from a religious community and local approval to build a place of worship, but these criteria are difficult to meet in Cilegon due to widespread opposition.
• 😀 Political dynasties in Cilegon, such as the Al-Safaat family, have been linked to corruption, with political leaders facing legal consequences for corrupt practices.
• 😀 Despite the lack of physical churches, some Christian communities in Cilegon manage to hold services in multipurpose buildings, though the broader issue of religious intolerance remains unsolved.

Q & A

What does Article 29, Paragraph 2 of the 1945 Constitution guarantee regarding religious freedom in Indonesia?

Article 29, Paragraph 2 of the 1945 Constitution guarantees that every citizen has the freedom to embrace and practice their religion according to their beliefs.

Why is Cilegon an important city in the context of Indonesia's religious freedom issue?

Cilegon is important because, despite its diverse population, it has seen no construction of religious buildings for non-Muslim communities, such as churches, temples, or pagodas, raising concerns about religious freedom and tolerance.

How does Cilegon's industrial development impact its religious and cultural landscape?

Cilegon's rapid industrial growth has led to an influx of diverse people from different regions, which makes its religious and cultural diversity significant. However, it also resulted in tensions regarding the establishment of religious places of worship for non-Muslim communities.

What is the current situation with religious places of worship in Cilegon?

As of 2019, Cilegon has hundreds of mosques and musholas, but there are no religious buildings for non-Muslim communities, despite the presence of thousands of non-Muslim citizens.

What challenges have non-Muslim communities faced in Cilegon when attempting to build religious places of worship?

Non-Muslim communities in Cilegon, such as Christians and Hindus, have faced repeated rejections in their efforts to build places of worship due to resistance from local residents and religious organizations.

How does the local government of Cilegon view the construction of non-Muslim places of worship?

The local government, specifically the Cilegon Forum for Religious Harmony (FKUB), has expressed opposition to the establishment of non-Muslim places of worship, citing concerns about potential conflicts and the impact on local harmony.

What regulations are in place for the establishment of places of worship in Indonesia, particularly in Cilegon?

According to the Joint Ministerial Decree (SKB 2 Ministers), the key requirements for establishing a religious building include obtaining 90 signatures from the congregation, 60 signatures from local residents, and recommendations from the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the local FKUB.

What is the role of the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) in Cilegon regarding the construction of religious buildings?

The Ministry of Religious Affairs in Cilegon has clarified that it does not prohibit the construction of non-Muslim religious buildings as long as the procedures are followed. However, local resistance remains a significant barrier.

What actions have been taken by the government to address the lack of non-Muslim places of worship in Cilegon?

In response to the lack of places of worship, the government has facilitated arrangements like providing buses to transport Christians to nearby cities for church services, but the issue of establishing religious buildings in Cilegon remains unresolved.

What is the political landscape in Cilegon and how has it affected local governance?

Cilegon has experienced political dynasties, notably the 'Aceh Dynasty,' which has been marred by corruption scandals. This has influenced the local governance, affecting decisions related to religious tolerance and development.