[Kabar-indonesia] W. Java Muslim groups protest against Christian police chief

[Joyo at aol.com]

BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific
November 3, 2006

Indonesia's West Java Muslim groups protest against
Christian police chief

Source: Koran Tempo website, Jakarta, in Indonesian 2 Nov 06

Text of report by Indonesian Koran Tempo website on 2
November

The rejection by sections of the Islamic community in
Cirebon of new Police Chief Assistant Senior Commissioner
Edison Sitorus, a Christian, is naturally regrettable.
Besides betraying the principle of equality, the rejection
shows the narrow-minded way in which the protestors see
relations between religious communities.

Indonesia is not an Islamic state. This nation acknowledges
the existence of religions but does not base itself on those
religions. And religious equality is protected by law.
Adherents of one religion are neither better nor more
powerful than adherents of any other religion, despite the
majority of the Indonesian population being Muslim.

Their rejection is based on a number of strange arguments.
Firstly, they are concerned that if the Cirebon police force
is led by a non-Muslim, immorality - consumption of alcohol,
gambling, nightclubs and prostitution - will explode around
the city. Secondly, the Christian police chief will have
difficulty communicating with residents who hold discussions
in the mosque.

Their third argument is that they are worried the new police
chief will get in the way of aspirations, held by certain
sections of the community, to implement Shari'ah. The forth,
which seems farfetched, is that Cirebon is a region that
identifies with Islam because it was founded by Sunan Gunung
Jati [one of the earliest Islamic preachers in Indonesia].
Therefore, important institutions must be lead by a Muslim.

The first argument clearly belittles the capacity of
Christians -in this instance a police officer -to undertake
a task. A police officer is an instrument of the state. He
is obliged to implement regulations -including restricting
gambling, the sale of alcohol and prostitution -regardless
of his religion. A morally corrupt police officer has no
connection with religion. A police officer who extorts,
protects gambling and participates in illegal logging can be
an adherent of any religion.

And communication certainly doesn't have to cease just
because the police chief is not a Muslim. The beauty of
Islam is that a non-Muslim can be invited into the mosque
for community discussions. While a non-Muslim may not sit
close to the mihrab [niche in a mosque wall indicating the
direction of Mecca], just use the porch or a room in the
Mosque's administrative area. Easy. The history of Islam is
not short of examples of Christians being permitted to enter
the mosque or churches and mosques being co-located.
The issue of Shari'ah is also unrelated to the police chief.
The fact is that Shari'ah is a concept that continues to be
debated and the polemic of whether or not Shari'ah bylaws
may supersede general laws is not yet resolved. Shari'ah is
a legislative rather than police matter. Excessive suspicion
of non-Muslims is the manifestation of the inferiority of
the protestors.

They say Cirebon identifies with Islam because it was
founded by Sunan Gunung Jati. It is precisely because
Cirebon is rich with Islamic history that those opposing the
police chief must be more open. The fathers of Islam in
Indonesia, including Kanjeng Sunan, spread Islam in a kind
and respectful manner, without feelings of hostility towards
those who were "different".

Rejecting and protesting against a local official is
certainly allowed. But it should be on the grounds of
performance, not because they are of a different faith.

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Joyo Indonesia News Service
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