Ngakunya Negeri Agamis Tapi Mengapa Masih Takut Berbeda

Summary

This script critiques the disparity between Indonesia's professed values of tolerance and its treatment of religious minorities. It highlights the challenges these groups face, such as discriminatory regulations, delayed permits for places of worship, and the dominance of majority groups in societal decisions. The speaker argues that, despite the legal framework supporting religious freedom, the government often caters to majority pressures, resulting in unequal treatment and undermining the ideals of justice and tolerance. Ultimately, the speaker calls for a genuine commitment to equality, urging the country to move beyond hollow slogans of diversity and embrace real protection for all citizens.

Takeaways

• 😀 The country presents a facade of promoting diversity, tolerance, and equality, but in reality, it falls short of treating religious minorities fairly.
• 😀 Religious minorities are often given the appearance of inclusion but are subjected to subtle exclusion, with laws and regulations that create barriers to equality.
• 😀 The 2006 regulations requiring signatures and support from both the same and different religious groups for religious building permits create an impossible situation for minorities, especially in majority-dominated areas.
• 😀 Local governments often avoid taking a stand, passing responsibility to biased forums and ignoring legal principles to maintain the illusion of harmony.
• 😀 Security forces fail to maintain neutrality, often siding with the majority and suppressing minority religious rights under the guise of preventing conflict.
• 😀 Despite Indonesia's democratic image, religious freedom violations continue, including the rejection and closure of religious facilities, particularly in urban areas.
• 😀 Religious minorities live in fear of practicing their faith openly, often forced to hide or gather secretly to avoid persecution.
• 😀 There is a stark double standard in the treatment of religious spaces, where mosques are allowed to function freely, while non-Muslim places of worship face significant challenges and restrictions.
• 😀 The state often prioritizes the demands of the majority, leading to laws and practices that favor one group over others, undermining true tolerance and justice.
• 😀 Even when legal protections exist for religious freedom, they are not upheld, and the government often gives in to majority pressure, turning a blind eye to minority rights.
• 😀 The underlying problem is not a lack of laws, but a lack of political courage to enforce fair laws that protect all citizens, especially minorities, resulting in a fractured, superficial democracy.

Q & A

What is the main critique presented in the transcript about Indonesia's approach to diversity and religious tolerance?

The main critique is that Indonesia presents an image of embracing diversity and tolerance but, in practice, minority religious groups face significant discrimination and barriers, particularly regarding the construction of places of worship and equal treatment in society.

What specific law does the speaker criticize for creating barriers for religious minorities in Indonesia?

The speaker criticizes the Joint Decree of the Ministers of Religious Affairs and Home Affairs (SKB 8 and 9, 2006), which requires religious groups to gather 90 signatures from followers of the same religion and 60 signatures from people of other religions to build a place of worship, making it difficult for minority groups in areas with a different religious majority.

How does the speaker describe the behavior of local governments and law enforcement regarding religious minorities?

The speaker describes local governments and law enforcement as often prioritizing the comfort of the majority, avoiding taking clear stances, and allowing discriminatory practices to persist by deferring responsibility to biased forums, resulting in delays or cancellations of the construction of places of worship for minorities.

What examples does the speaker give of religious minorities being denied the right to build places of worship?

The speaker mentions several examples, including religious minorities in Lampung, Bekasi, Bogor, Cilegon, Banda Aceh, and Tanjung Balai, where places of worship were rejected, shut down, or disturbed, highlighting the prevalence of this issue across the country.

What does the speaker say about the government’s role in ensuring religious freedom?

The speaker argues that the government fails to protect the rights of religious minorities, instead often siding with the majority to maintain public order and avoid conflict, ultimately undermining true justice and equality for all citizens.

How does the speaker explain the contradiction in how different religious practices are treated in Indonesia?

The speaker highlights the double standards, where the construction of mosques and the use of loudspeakers (TOA) are often tolerated, while minority religious groups face resistance for even small religious activities, which are deemed as disturbing public harmony.

What does the speaker suggest about the state’s commitment to protecting minority rights?

The speaker suggests that the state’s commitment to protecting minority rights is more of a façade, as it is often disregarded in favor of maintaining order and favoring the majority, which leads to systemic discrimination against minority groups.

What examples of fear and intimidation does the speaker mention regarding religious practice in Indonesia?

The speaker provides examples of people practicing their religion in secret, such as conducting prayers in private homes, out of fear of being raided or persecuted, as well as incidents where religious buildings are forcibly closed or denied permission to operate.

How does the speaker perceive the role of the majority’s influence in policy and decision-making?

The speaker perceives the influence of the majority as overwhelming, with decisions often being made based on majority opinion rather than upholding principles of justice and equality, which leads to the marginalization of minority religious groups.

What does the speaker mean when saying that Indonesia’s democracy is 'crooked'?

The speaker refers to the distortion of democracy in Indonesia, where decisions are driven by the majority's voice rather than by fairness or justice, resulting in a system where the rights of religious minorities are continuously undermined.