Indonesia, the largest muslim country in the world with over 200 million people following Islam, has always been a model of religious and ethnic tolerance. However, recent pressure from some fundamentalist groups starts to challenge the government and could eventually scare tourists to the destination- except maybe to Bali…
JAKARTA/YOGYAKARTA- Talk to any Indonesian about his feelings against terrorists, hard-liners and in its vast majority, a foreign traveller will get the same answer. “They are stupid people! They just want to destroy the soul of our country. And this is not the way most of us want to go”, replies Rindo, a young student originated from Yogyakarta, when questioned following the ban of Lady Gaga concert in Jakarta, under the pressure of Islamic fundamentalists. His answer is not to please a foreign visitor. It reflects what Indonesians believe in their overwhelming majority. Indonesia’s tolerant behaviour has been praised around the world, from US President Barack Obama during his visit in Indonesia in 2010 to the Australian Government which just released this week a statement through its embassy in Jakarta.
Islam in Indonesia has been built along other religions such as Buddhism or Hinduism which swept the archipelago far before the spread of Muslim faith in the 13th century. The Christian religion came mostly through Europeans during the set-up of colonial empires between the 17th and the 19th century. Indonesian Islam still reflects today a colourful way of life with many elements being taken and blended from other religions. One of the best examples of the influence of all religions can be seen in Central Java and in Yogyakarta, both considered as the cradle of Javanese culture. The protocol presiding over the lifestyle of royal courts in the Keraton (palace) of Yogyakarta, Cirebon or Solo, the performances of classical dances taken from the Ramayana, the matrilineal society of Minangkabau people in West Sumatra, the ritual celebration of the rice harvest with masks and dances in Wehea in East Kalimantan, all these examples epitomize an harmony where Islam goes along with Buddhism or animism…
Except that they are more and more signs of an end to Indonesia’s famed sense of tolerance. The Lady Gaga concert’s issue dragged many questions from bloggers and participants in social media about the inability of the Indonesian Central Government to resist the pressure of conservative movements who threaten the performer and finally win over 50,000 teens and fans ready to see her star; then, came last week the story of the city of Tasikmalaya in West Java (650,000 inhabitants) vowing to enforce rules based on Sharia law. Religious police would then look at seeing all woman wearing headscarves including foreigners; Muslim men and women who are not related or married to one another would be banned from being alone together. A municipal bylaw defines also a list of punishable vices such as adultery, homosexuality, alcohol consumption and gambling.
Although Tasikmalaya is already well-known to be ruled by conservative forces, the move by the city mayor faced strong opposition by women’s’ groups, civil rights advocates and others who feel the local authorities do not have the right to impose a religious code of behaviour. It also tests the reaction of the Government to make laws respected. Sharia is not applicable in the Indonesian archipelago, except in the autonomous province of Aceh in Northern Sumatra. AFP reported that 13 couples – including one deemed as “punk”- were canned in Aceh last April for premarital sexual relations.
All of these stories coming at regular interval will request the Indonesian government to reaffirm strongly the commitment of the country towards its multi-ethnical and multi-religious society. The failure to act swiftly against provinces or areas which would not follow a principle enshrined in Indonesia’s constitution is likely to tarnish the country’s image and make potential foreign travellers uncomfortable. Indonesia tourism has turned the corner over the last five years, growing with total international arrivals growing from six to eight million. It would be then a disaster for the country, its economy and many people employed in the travel industry…
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
