Jakarta – Indonesian Human Rights Watch (Imparsial) says that the number of violations against freedom of religion in Indonesia has declined over the last four years.
Imparsial Director Ardi Manto believes that the decline in the number of violations is a positive record for the police under the leadership of National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo.
"This is reflected in a decrease in the number of cases or incidents of violations of freedom of religion or belief over the past three years", Manto told reporters on Thursday December 12.
Manto said they noted that in 2021 there were 28 cases of violations against religious freedom. This number then declined to 23 cases in 2022, 18 cases in 2023 and 20 cases as of November 2024.
He said however there are a number of issues that are still of concern for the police that need to be improved in order to strengthen religious freedom and belief in Indonesia.
Manto encouraged all ranks of the Bhayangkara Corps – as the police are known – in various regions to take progressive steps by facilitating dialogue between religious or belief groups.
"Some cases that could have led to religious conflicts have been successfully prevented through the facilitation of dialogue by the police. For example, as was done out by the Tulang Bawang Regional Police in Lampung [South Sumatra] in 2021", he explained.
In addition to this, firm action against police officers who are negligent in preventing cases of violations against religious freedom also need to be applied without discrimination.
He gave the example of sanctions against the Kulon Progo District Police Chief (Kapolres) in 2023 who was removed from his post following a case involving the closure of a Virgin Mary statue, an action which was appropriate.
Furthermore, Manto hopes that in the future the National Police (Polri) can also form harmony-based security units in all regions and not just limit themselves to areas prone to religious-based conflicts.
"These units would be tasked with monitoring the potential for conflict and promoting a preventive approach through persuasion. In some regions the National Police can conduct harmony socialisation between religious communities through the Friday safari program", he said.
Manto emphasised that various breakthroughs are important so the National Police can play an active role in maintaining freedom of religious and belief (KBB) in Indonesia.
He warned the Bhayangkara Corps that it must guarantee the constitutional rights of every citizen to enjoy religious rights and beliefs without discrimination from any party.
"Polri has a crucial role in preventing, handling and mediating these conflicts by continuing to uphold the principles of human rights (HAM)", he concluded. (tfq/fra)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Imparsial Sebut Pelanggaran Kebebasan Beragama Turun 3 Tahun Terakhir".]
