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THE TANDEM PROJECT UNITED NATIONS, HUMAN RIGHTS, Separation of Religion or Belief & State INDONESIA First Session U.N. Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review (7-18 April, 2008) The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique process launched by the UN Human Rights Council in 2008 to review the human rights obligations and responsibilities of all UN Member States by 2011. Click for an Introduction to the Universal Periodic Review, Process and News: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/Pages/UPRMain.aspx UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW
CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS Working Group Report: Stakeholder Letters: Submitted for the Indonesia Universal Periodic Review. TANDEM PROJECT RECOMMENDATIONS Pancasila the official government philosophy recognizes six religions in the Indonesian State: Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Confuscianism. The Constitution accords “all persons the right to worship according to their own religion or belief” but states that “the nation is based upon belief in one supreme God.” Pancasila as an ideology does not comply with international human rights standards on equal protection for all theistic, non-theistic and atheistic beliefs, as well as the right not to profess any religion or belief- General Comment 22 on Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Pancasila has five related and interdependent principles: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancasila_(politics) The Government of Indonesia should consider ways to implement Article 4.2 of the 1981 UN Declaration on Freedom of Religion or Belief; All States shall make all efforts to enact or rescind legislation where necessary to prohibit any such discrimination, and to take all appropriate measures to combat intolerance on the grounds of religion or other beliefs in this matter. The Indonesia Universal Periodic Review is a unique opportunity to begin to build a legal and cultural consensus with international law and human rights standards on freedom of religion or belief. The Tandem Projectrecommends non-governmental organizations and civil society in Indonesia sponsor projects to develop national and local approaches to freedom of religion or belief, based on integration, dialogue and education. Such programs would recognize Pancasila as the official philosophical foundation of the Indonesian state while developing model demonstration programs to reconcile international human rights law and standards on freedom of religion or belief with Pancasila, as a follow-up to the Indonesia Universal Periodic Review. INDONESIA CONTACTS The Tandem Project Follow-up is seeking an exchange of information for the Indonesia Universal Periodic Review on approaches to freedom of religion or belief,to bridge human rights proclaimed in treaties at the international level with the reality of implementation at a national and local level. These are organizations with expertise in Indonesia on issues of concern relating to international human rights and freedom of religion or belief. The Minneapolis-St. Paul Area Survey on Freedom of Religion or Belief will ask them for an exchange of information. Indonesian National Human Rights Commission: Letter Submitted for Indonesia UPR. Muhammadiyah (Persyarikatan Muhammadiyah): Web site. Muhammadiyah literally means “followers of Muhammad.” The organization was founded in the city of Yogyakarta as a reformist socio-religious movement, advocating ijihad-individual interpretation of Qur’an and Sunnah, as opposed to taqlid-the acceptance of the traditional interpretations propounded by the ulama. Muhammadiyah is the second largest Islamic organization in Indonesia with 30 million members. Muhammadiyah leaders and members are often shape the politics of Indonesia, Muhammadiyah is not a political party. It has devoted itself to social and educational activities: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammadiyah. Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation: http://www.ylbhi.or.id/index.php?cx=7 The Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) was established by the initiative of the Indonesian Advocates Association (Peradin) Third Congress in 1969. Today LBH which is now named (YLBHI) has 14 branches and 7 posts spread across Indonesia, from Banda Aceh to Papua. As a civil society organization, YLBHI believes that governance must be based on the protection of people’s fundamental freedoms as well as their economic, social and cultural rights. In August 2009 the Oslo Coalition sponsored and participated in the training of trainers for young lawyers attached to YLBH for case related to abuses of freedom of religion. YLBHI have identified a need for further education and information on this topic. The Tandem Project Follow-up for the Indonesia Universal Periodic Review will ask YLBHI for contacts at a local level to exchange information. UIN University Yogyakarta: http://www.legacyintl.org/programs/religion_society.htm Legacy International is a non-profit educational and training organization based in the United States. Since 1979 there primary mission has been to help individuals and groups to develop and refine skills and to deal effectively with the needs of their societies. Legacy International – Indonesia with UIN University Yogyakarta and the U.S. State Department sponsored a two year, two-way exchange between scholars, clerics, and community leaders in Indonesia and the United States (from the Web site). The Tandem Project Follow-up for the Indonesia Universal Periodic Review will ask the advice of organizations and leaders listed on the Web site for suggestions on an exchange of information. Oslo Coalition Indonesia Project; www.oslocoalition.org/indonesia.php The Oslo Coalition on Freedom of Religion or Belief Indonesia Project started in 2002 with a Norwegian delegation visit to Indonesia. The Indonesia Project aims at establishing relationships both between faith communities and between academia in Norway and Indonesia, with a view to cooperation in the fields of inter-religious dialogue, human rights protection, and conflict resolution. The project emphasizes the role of religious education, dialogue and cooperation in fostering tolerance and interfaith perspectives in academic training with particular attention to women and youth. In 2007-2008 the Oslo Coalition Indonesia Project supported a “Bridge Building Dialogue” process, a workshop on “Teaching for Tolerance” with the State University of Islamic Studies UIN Makassar, UIN Yogyakarta University training course in freedom of religion or belief, UIN Sunan Kalijaga/UIN Alauddin Makassar development of pilot project workshop materials for teachers of religion, CEPDES essay competition on human rights and Sharia in Koran Schools, PSIF (Center for Islamic and Philosophical Studies) preparation for field work research on the Hindu-Balinese minority on Lombok, Interfiei research project on Indonesian Religious education at primary and secondary level, and in June 2004, an international Workshop on Equality and Plurality in cooperation with UIN Yogyakarta. The Tandem Project Follow-up proposals for integration, dialogue and education will ask the Oslo Coalition for suggestion on local partnerships in these localities and issue areas. Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights The Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights was established as an independent foundation in August 2006. The Oslo Center’s work is structured around three main programs: Dialogue for Peace, Promoting Democracy and Human Rights. The Oslo Center works through contact and dialogue with policy makers, organizations and key actors in Norway and internationally. Several members of the staff of nine are former diplomats and experts from the Government of Norway. The Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights president and founder is Kjell Magne Bondevik, Prime Minister of Norway from 1997-2000 and 2001-2005. Mr. Bondevik was ordained as a priest in the Lutheran Church of Norway in 1979. He is a member of several key international associations the United Nations endorsed Alliance of Civilizations and the Club de Madrid made up of former presidents and foreign ministers from countries throughout the world. Mr. Bondevik is in a unique position having been a Norwegian Foreign Minister and an active priest in the State Church of Norway. The Tandem Project will call on the Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights to exchange information on ways they intend to follow-up on the Norway Universal Periodic Review. Center for Religious and Cross Cultural Studies: Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia. The Center for Religious and Cross Cultural Studies (CRCS) was established in 2000 in the Graduate School, Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia. The primary vision of CRCS is to promote the development of a democratic, multicultural and just society in Indonesia by establishing a center of excellence on religious studies with an international reputation. This Indonesian Center may be able to provide the names of organizations within Indonesian civil society that can be of help in exchanging information on the reconciliation of Pancasila national ideology with international human rights standards on freedom of religion or belief. Nahdlatul Ulama (NU): http://www.nu.or.id/page.php?lang=en Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) is a conservative Sunni Islam group in Indonesia. Its traditionalist nature is evident in the name Ulama, referring to the scholar-preachers of Islam, trained in Quranic studies, including the interpretation of religious laws contained therein. NU is one of the largest independent Islamic organizations in the world. Some estimations of their membership range as high as 40 million. NU acts as a large charitable body. It funds schools, hospitals, and organizes communities or “kampungs” to combat poverty. International Crisis Group Indonesia: The International Crisis Group (Crisis Group) is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organization, with some 130 staff members on five continents working through field-based analysis and high-level advocacy to prevent and resolve deadly conflict. The International Crisis Group is now generally recognized as the world’s leading independent non-partisan source of analysis and advice to governments, and intergovernmental bodies like the United Nations, European Union and World Bank. Aceh Province Parliament has passed a law making adultery punishable by stoning to death based on Sharia law, which obviously is not in compliance with international standards on human rights and freedom of religion or belief. Aceh rebels gave up their arms and separatist rebellion in 2005 under a power sharing agreement with the Indonesian government after 30 years of war. The Tandem Project Follow-up will ask the International Crisis Group and Martti Ahtirsaari, 2009 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who helped broker the peace agreement, for advice on approaches to freedom of religion or belief in Aceh Province. Crisis Management Initiative: http://www.cmi.fi/ Background: CMI was founded in 2000 by its Chairman President Martti Ahtisaari. The headquarters of the organisation are in Helsinki, Finland. The way we work: Solution and result oriented. We seek to achieve and bring efficiency, quality and impact into mediation, conflict resolution and peace processes. Participatory and inclusive: We strive to design processes which build on local context by involving all and seek to empower especially those stakeholders who may be underrepresented in the peace process. Holistic: We work thorough combining analysis, action and advocacy. Practical: We develop tools which support decision making, engagementand governance in conflict and post-conflict environments. Collaborative: We do not expect to achieve results by working alone. We achieve results by combining abilities, talents and resources.World Council of Churches: Letter submitted for the Indonesia Universal Periodic Review: The World Council of Churches (WCC) program on Inter-religious dialogue and cooperation promotes respectful coexistence and peaceful integration in a pluralistic society, enabling bilateral and multilateral dialogues, regional and cross-cultural encounters on topics like the perceptions of “the other”; religion and violence; etc. The WCC Letter for the Indonesia Universal Periodic Review has recommendations helpful as a focus of their interests for an exchange of information with The Tandem Project Follow-up to the Indonesia Universal Periodic Review. Communion of Churches in Indonesia: The Communion of Churches in Indonesia was founded in 1950 with objective of an umbrella organization called the United Christian Church of Indonesia organized in 26 regional communions identified in the Web site. Among the 26 regions are Jakarta, Java, West Java, Sulawesi, Bali, Lampung, Aceh and Sumatra. Churches within the membership of the World Council of Churches are listed here and may be able to provide information for The Tandem Project Follow-up proposals within the context of Indonesian law and culture. Lutheran World Federation; http://www.lutheranworld.org The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran tradition with international headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF now has 140 member churches in 79 countries all over the world representing 68.5 million Christians. Their mission includes humanitarian assistance, mission and development, theology, international affairs & human rights and ecumenical relations. Lutheran churches see the protection of human rights as a basic Christian concern and LWF monitors human rights abuses around the world and, in consultation with its member churches, makes representations in relation to crucial issues. The Indonesian Christian Lutheran Church joined LWF in 1994. It has 23,000 members according to the LWF Web site. The LWF international headquarters in Geneva will be asked for advice on whether The Tandem Project Follow-up proposals in Indonesia will ask LWF for advice on an integrated international-national-local approach to human rights and freedom of religion or belief. CCE Indonesia: http://www.cce-indonesia.org CCE-Indonesia is a non-profit organization which has been creating innovative civic education programs for nine years in Indonesia. The CCEI projects in Indonesia are funded through grants from the U.S. Department of Education and the United States Department of State. Muhammadiyah has conducted teacher training in cooperation with the Center for Civic Education (CEE) Indonesia. The Tandem Project Follow-up for the Indonesia Universal Periodic Review and the USA Universal Periodic Review in December 2010 will ask for an exchange of information in both countries: Universal Periodic Review & Freedom of Religion or Belief Franciscans International Letter; Indonesia Universal Periodic Review: Franciscans International is a non-governmental organization (NGO) at the United Nations. It is an international ministry founded in 1989 of the entire Franciscan movement, men and women, lay and cleric, Protestant and Catholic. Operating under the sponsorship of the Conference of the Franciscan Family (CFF) which has the see in Rome, it serves all Franciscans and the community by bringing the spiritual and ethical values of Franciscan life to the issues facing the world community. It strives to bring the concerns and the voice of the poor, oppressed and powerless people of the world to the world table when the governments of the world deliberate. Formation at FI means educating Franciscans in human rights advocacy and poverty eradication, offering practical experiences at the policy-making level in Geneva and New York, and providing them with the resources to translate this knowledge into better service for their home communities around the world. FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR BELIEF The principal instruments for International Human Rights Law on Freedom of Religion or Belief is Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (CCPR) and the 1981 U.N. Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief. General Comment 22 on Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: The 1981 UN Declaration on the Elimination of all Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief http://www.tandemproject.com/program/81_dec.htm. INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW ON FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR BELIEF Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world – Preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The principle of universality of human rights is the cornerstone of international human rights law. http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Pages/WhatareHumanRights.aspx The Third Rail International human rights law on freedom of religion or belief protects theistic, non-theistic and atheistic beliefs, as well as the right not to profess any religion or belief, - General Comment 22 on Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The United Nations is unbiased and impartial not favoring one religion or belief over another. This principle protects our equal rights from discrimination and may be described as the third rail on the God idea between theism and atheism. Article 18: International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have a religion or whatever belief of his choice and freedom either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching. No one shall be subject to coercion which would impair his freedom to have a religion or belief of his choice. Freedom of manifest one’s religion or belief may be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public safety, order, health, morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others. The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to have respect for the liberty of parents and, when applicable, legal guardians to ensure the religious and moral education in conformity with their own convictions. U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT RELIGIOUS FREEDOM REPORT, INDONESIA The Ministry of Religious Affairs estimates that 19 million Protestants (referred to locally as Christians) and 8 million Catholics live in the country. The province of East Nusa Tenggara has the highest proportion of Catholics at 55 percent. The province of Papua contains the highest proportion of Protestants at 58 percent. Other areas, such as the Maluku Islands and North Sulawesi, host sizable Christian communities. The Ministry of Religious Affairs estimates that 10 million Hindus live in the country. Hindus account for approximately 90 percent of the population in Bali. Hindu minorities (called "Keharingan") reside in Central and East Kalimantan, the city of Medan (North Sumatra), South and Central Sulawesi, and Lombok (West Nusa Tenggara). Hindu groups such as Hare Krishna and followers of the Indian spiritual leader Sai Baba are also present, although in smaller numbers. Some indigenous religious groups, including the "Naurus" on Seram Island in Maluku Province, incorporate Hindu and animist beliefs into their practices. Many have also adopted some Protestant principles. The Tamil community in Medan represents another concentration of Hindus. The country has a small Sikh population, estimated between 10,000 and 15,000. Sikhs reside primarily in Medan and Jakarta. Eight Sikh temples (gurdwaras) are located in North Sumatra, while Jakarta has two Sikh temples with active congregations. Among Buddhists, approximately 60 percent follow the Mahayana school, Theravada followers account for 30 percent, and the remaining 10 percent belong to the Tantrayana, Tridharma, Kasogatan, Nichiren, or Maitreya schools. According to the Young Generation of Indonesian Buddhists, most believers live in Java, Bali, Lampung, West Kalimantan, and the Riau islands. Ethnic Chinese make up an estimated 60 percent of Buddhists. The number of Confucians remains unknown because at the time of the 2000 national census, respondents were not allowed to identify themselves as such. The Supreme Council for Confucian Religion in Indonesia (MATAKIN) estimated that ethnic Chinese made up 95 percent of Confucians with the balance mostly indigenous Javanese. Many Confucians also practiced Buddhism and Christianity. An estimated 20 million persons in Java, Kalimantan, Papua, and elsewhere practice animism and other types of traditional belief systems termed "Aliran Kepercayaan." Some animists combine their beliefs with one of the government-recognized religions. There are very small Jewish communities in Jakarta and Surabaya. The Baha'i community reported thousands of members, but no reliable figures were available. Falun Dafa, which considers itself a spiritual organization rather than a religion, claims between 2,000 and 3,000 followers, nearly half of whom live in Yogyakarta, Bali, and Medan. The Tandem Project a non-governmental organization (NGO) founded in 1986 to build understanding, tolerance, and respect for diversity of religion or belief, and to prevent discrimination in matters relating to freedom of religion or belief. The Tandem Project has sponsored multiple conferences, curricula, reference material and programs on Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights- Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion – and the 1981 United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief. Documents Attached: Indonesia - State Philosophy of Pancasila; Indonesia - Yogyakarta - Gadjah Mada Universities - Forum for Academic Discourse on Human Rights & Freedom of Religion or Belief. |
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