‘Native-faith’ Followers Still Marginalized

The state's recognition of “native-faith” followers is considered not optimal. Some followers of native faith are still constrained from accessing public services unlike other Indonesian citizens in general.

KOMPAS/IRMA TAMBUNAN

After waiting for a long time, it is only in 2021 that the population data of the Orang Rimba in Jambi has been recorded by the state. The administrative records marked the state's recognition of native faith  in these remote communities. In the photo, Mengkebul (squatting without clothes), one of the Orang Rimba, is waiting for the distribution of cash social assistance from the state, in the Terab area, Batanghari Regency, Jambi, Saturday, 22/5/2021).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – In 2017, the Constitutional Court granted a request for the judicial review of Law No. 23/2006 concerning Civil Registry Administration. With this, the native faith followers can declare their faith on the electronic ID card and leave the religion column blank. This is summarized in Constitutional Court ruling No. 97/PUU-XIV/2016.

Some of them managed to declare their faith on their e-IDs. However, other native faith followers faced difficulties because the officers in charge of ID card issuance did not understand the Constitutional Court's ruling.