The results of the 2015 tolerant city index conducted by the Setara Institute stated Pematang Siantar, Salatiga, Singkawang, Manado, and Tual as highly tolerant cities.
JAKARTA — To commemorate “International Day for Tolerance” held every November 16, SETARA Institute launched the 2015 tolerant city index, which is the result of a study of 94 cities out of a total of 98 cities across Indonesia from August 3 to November 13, 2015.
Deputy Chair of Setara Institute Bonar Tigor Naipospos, Monday (16/11) explained that in these five cities, no discriminatory regional regulations were found. In addition, he added, the medium-term development plans in those cities also encourage guarantees of freedom of belief and religion, such as the existence of programs for interfaith communities to dialogue with each other. And in these five cities, no cases of intolerance were found either.
Setara Institute also mentioned that Bogor, Bekasi, Banda Aceh, Depok, and Tangerang are highly intolerant cities. This is because there are many cases concerning freedom of religion and belief in those cities as well as the large number of regional regulations (Perda) issued by the local government that are discriminatory against minority groups.
Local governments in these cities, according to Bonar, accommodate the wishes of the majority group more for their political interests. Bonar hopes this tolerant city index can serve as input for the Ministry of Home Affairs to provide an assessment or evaluation of those cities.
This can also be used by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Bonar continued, to evaluate discriminatory regional regulations and urge local governments that fall into the intolerant category to make changes.
“The Ministry of Home Affairs, seeing that what the regional governments are doing to improve is lacking, can use a budgeting approach, so withholding a number of budget allocations as a form of punishment,” said Bonar.
Minister of Home Affairs Tjahyo Kumolo stated he accepts input from anyone, including the Setara Institute. He emphasized that there should be no discrimination against anyone, including certain groups.
Minister of Religion Lukman Hakim Syaifuddin said his ministry is currently continuing to intensify the discussion of the Draft Law on the Protection of Religious Communities which will later be very effective.
“Because with that Law, everything can be clear on how we approach religious issues that so far have had no legal basis,” said Lukman Hakim.
Lukman said regulations regarding the establishment of houses of worship are still needed but may need to be refined.
Previously, Setara Institute had also conducted a survey on high school students’ perceptions of religious tolerance and radicalism. The results from 684 respondents, as many as 8.5 percent said they knew and agreed with ISIS ideology.
This condition, he added, is caused by the heavy flow of information acknowledging media including the internet. For this reason, according to him, the role of teachers is very important in this regard. Schools are also expected to provide social psychologists to understand students’ personalities, so that such thinking can be corrected.
Bonar admitted that if left unchecked, this could become a seed to spread radical teachings.
He explained, “It is indeed a bit difficult, but it’s like this, these crucial ages, the transitional period which is psychologically unstable, mentalities that can change depending on the stimulus they get. That is where the roles of psychologists, psychiatrists, and religious figures can come in.”
Setara conducted a survey of students from 76 senior high schools (SMU) in Jakarta and 38 SMU in Bandung (including Cimahi, Bandung Regency, and Bandung city) between last March 9-19. The research used interview and questionnaire methods. [fw/ii]
Source : voaindonesia.com