TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo said that the Tolikara regent and Legislative Council could not provide physical evidences related to the existence of a regional regulation banning praying house buildings in the regency. However, the Tolikara regent confirmed that the regulation was enforced in Tolikara.
"I waited yesterday, and I told them to find it. They said that it was drafted by the previous government. The regent and the Legislative Council said that they didn’t know about it, but we keep on looking," Tjahjo said at the State Palace on Wednesday, July 22, 2015.
According to Tjahjo, he could not find any record related to the regional regulation at his ministry. Tjahjo added that the regional regulation was not found in 139 canceled ones.
Under the Law on Regional Governments, any regional bills passed by Legislative Councils and regional heads must be submitted to the central government within seven days after it is signed.
Soedarmo, the director general for politics and general administrations at the Home Affaris Ministry, said that the regional regulation was proposed by the president of the Evangelical Church of Indonesia (GIDI) to Tolikara Regent.
Later, the proposal was discussed by the regent and the Legislative Council to be passed. However, the central government had never received it to be verified. When a regional regulation violates human rights or the superseding Laws, the central government will ask a regional government to revise the bill.
"If [the regional regulation] does exist, it clearly violates human rights and Pancasila (five principles)," Soedarmo said.
Soedarmo revealed that Tolikara regent accommodated GIDI’s proposal because he was a member of the organization. Soedarmo added that GIDI was very dominant in Tolikara.
Under the regional regulation, GIDI issued a circular letter on July 11, 2015 banning Muslims to perform Eid prayer and wear hijab in Tolikara. Earlier, the letter caused an incident during the Idul Fitri.
TIKA PRIMANDARI
