JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – The SETARA Institute released the results of research on the level of religious tolerance in cities across almost all of Indonesia.
Several cities such as Manado, Ambon, and Pontianak, are included in the 10 cities that have a reasonably high level of tolerance.
“The 2015 Tolerant City Index seeks to promote cities that are considered successful in developing religious tolerance,” said Director of Research at the SETARA Institute, Ismail Hasani, in a press conference in Cikini, Central Jakarta, Monday (16/11/2015).
“This is to trigger other cities to build the same tolerance,” he said.
The 10 cities are Pematang Siantar, Salatiga, Singkawang, Manado, and Tual. In addition, there are also Sibolga, Ambon, Sorong, Pontianak, and Palangkaraya.
In measuring this tolerance level, SETARA Institute used four research variables.
Of the four variables, the first is city government regulations contained in the Regional Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMD) and regional regulations with discriminatory or non-discriminatory assessments.
The second variable is the actions of the city government. In this case, SETARA assessed the government’s response in handling intolerant events that occurred in its region.
For example, impartial city government statements.
In addition, the third variable is social regulation, or intolerant events that have occurred recently in the city.
Then, the fourth is religious demography and population composition. In this case, the research compares the composition of the population based on religion.
This research was conducted on 94 cities throughout Indonesia.
The research used a document study based on data and observation of events, which was conducted from August 3 – November 13, 2015.
“The Minister of Home Affairs should pay attention to these findings and coordinate on religious freedom,” said Deputy Chair of the SETARA Institute, Bonar Tigor Naipospos.
“This is evaluation material for city governments, whether policies have treated different groups equally?” he said.
Source : kompas.com