Indonesia Highlights: Indonesia Aims to Vaccinate 70 Million People in First Half of 2021 | Joint Ministerial Decree Prohibits Compulsory Religious Attributes in Indonesian Schools | US Citizen Elec

Signed by Minister of Education and Culture Nadiem Makarim, Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian and Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, the document covers schools at the primary and secondary level.

The Decree covers state schools, as they “were intended by the government for the Indonesian people, regardless of their creed, ethnicity, and various backgrounds,” said Nadiem.

“The Decree also allows students and teachers alike to choose uniforms and other outfits that reflect their religious beliefs or not.”

Yaqut is just as upbeat about the decree. “The document will prevent any one religion from foisting their belief on other faiths. Instead, it will help the adherents of each religion to understand and tolerate one another.”

The Decree stipulates that provincial administrations or state schools are required to comply with the policy within 30 days after it goes into effect on February 3.

The institutions will face sanctions if they failed to comply with the policy. The sanctions range from verbal and written warnings to guidance on practicing more moderate forms of belief.

The controversy started after a state school in the city of Padang, West Sumatra forced a Christian student to wear the hijab in the end of January. The school has since backed down and apologized over the issue.

Source:

https://go.kompas.com/read/2021/02/04/050813974/joint-ministerial-decree-prohibits-compulsory-religious-attributes-in-indonesian?page=all#page2. 

US Citizen Elected As NTT Province Regent Throws Indonesian Regional Election in Chaos

The Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Law and Human Rights are reviewing the citizenship status of politician Orient Riwu Kore after his election as Regent of East Nusa Tenggara [NTT] Province’s Sabu Raijua Regency, following reports that he is still holding US citizenship.

“[The Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Law and Human Rights] are holding the review to determine if Orient is still an Indonesian national or have become an [American] citizen,” said Ministry of Home Affairs official Zudan Arif Fakhrulloh on Wednesday, February 3.

Zudan noted that Orientwas in the Ministry’s records as an Indonesian citizen since 1997. “[Orient] seemed to become a US citizen years ago without giving up his Indonesian citizenship,” he asserted.

“If that were true, then documents pertaining to his [Indonesian] citizenship, including his victory as Sabu Raijua Regent, will be null and void.”

The Indonesian Election Supervisory Body or Bawaslu first broke the news about Orient’s citizenship status. “We have inquired about [Orient’s] citizenship to the US Embassy in Jakarta,” asserted Yudi Tagihuma, the head of Bawaslu’s Sabu Raijua branch.

He added that the US Embassy confirmed the Bawaslu’s findings. “We would like to inform you that Mr Orient Patriot Riwukore is holding US Citizenship," confirmed US Embassy Consular officer Eric M. Alexander.

Orient and his running mate Thobias Uly beat their incumbent rival Nikodemus N. Riki Rehe and Yohanes Yly Kale in the race for Sabu Raijua regent in September 2020.

Source:

https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2021/02/03/17385451/punya-paspor-as-kemendagri-dan-kemenkumham-kaji-status-kewarganegaraan?page=all#page2.