Ahok, The New Gus Dur

(published by The Jakarta Post on 3 Aug 2015. Click here)

I was overcome with delight to see Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama defend religious minorities while other leaders choose to keep silent.

It is not because he is a Christian that he defended the Indonesian Protestant Christian Church (GKPI) in Jatinegara, East Jakarta, from demolition recently; he has also defended other faiths, including protecting a congregation of Ahmadiyah Muslims in Tebet, Jakarta, from eviction.

Ahok noted that dozens of mosques had also been built in violation of zoning regulations, but there was no effort made to tear them down. I am convinced he is not intolerant of Islam, but as governor he has to uphold justice. Justice means treating all citizens and all communities equally, regardless of whether they are in the majority or the minority. Moreover, when dealing with faith, leaders should be very clear that all citizens should be allowed to worship according to their faith, as guaranteed by the Constitution. The state has to be available for the persecuted at any cost.

Ahok did not venture an opinion on the whether the Ahmadis are heretical, as their detractors insist, but demanded only that they be treated as humans. As soon the news went online, many netizens posted comments lauding his bravery.

“I had lost hope for this country until this man came along,” read one typical comment.

“He comes across as a very caring and decent human being,” stated another commenter.

If regional and national leaders were as brave as Ahok, the joint ministerial decree that regulates building permits for houses of worship would be repealed. The decree was intended to maintain harmony among all believers, but is in fact exploited by the intolerant, who use it as a tool to prevent worshipers performing their religious activities, citing a lack of permits even in cases where the building has stood for decades.

We should not pretend it is easy for the minority to earn approval from surrounding communities to build their house of worship. Perhaps there are some egalitarian people living among us as good neighbors — they must use their voices to advocate for tolerance for minorities.

Building a house of worship does not require drawn-out bureaucratic wrangling, it requires statesmanship. Ahok’s bold move reminds me of Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid, who always protected minorities from persecution.

Ahok is aware that his stance is not without risks, but he appears ready to show real leadership.

***

Serpong, 30 July 2015

Titus J.

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