Enjoying the Beauty of Indonesian Diversity
Al Amanah Mosque and the Giri Metta Temple stand side-by-side peacefully at RT 02/RW 02 in Paledang Kampong, Lengkong, Bandung, West Java, on Friday (12/5).
In the heart of Bandung in West Java, the Indonesian spirit is continuously kindled. Differences strengthen local communities there instead of weakening them. On Saturday (13/5/2017) at 11 p.m., Leonard Lumi walked the streets at night. Even at 62 years old, he was determined to participate in night patrols in his neighborhood.
He was not alone that night. There were 20 other residents of Community Unit (RW) 012 in Babakan Ciparay, Bandung, who participated in the night patrol.
“We divide ourselves into four groups and we take turns every two months. There are around 200 houses with 1,000 residents that we need to watch over in the night patrols every Saturday,” Leonard said.
That night, the streets in Babakan Ciparay were deserted. No cars or motorbikes were seen driving through the 4-meter-wide roads. Only the sounds of wooden patrol bells in the guards’ hands broke the silence from time to time. Flashlight beams shone at dark corners did not show anything suspicious.
Some 20 minutes later, two groups that were on duty that night finished their stroll around the neighborhood. At a security post, chicken porridge and sayur asem (vegetables in tamarind broth) was ready for the taking. In front of a banner bearing the words “Peace is Beautiful”, Leonard said that the night patrols were done not only to ensure neighborhood security but also to ensure comfort for locals amid their differences. People from five religions were present in the patrol that night.
“This is our neighborhood and our home,” said Leonard, a Catholic.
Living together
Located near the Caringin central market, the largest traditional market in Bandung, diversity is inevitable in Babakan Ciparay. People from many regions all over Indonesia and various faiths live in the area.
There are three houses of worship there, namely the Gandarusa Catholic Church, the Al-Amanah Sumber Sari Mosque and a vihara managed by the Buddha Cakrawala Dharma Indonesia Foundation. The newest of the houses of worship, the Gandarusa Church, is still under construction. It is located just 50 meters away from the Al-Amanah Mosque.
“Everyone here approves the construction. People from different faiths support the construction as the old building could not contain the congregation,” Leonard said.
RW 012 head Hj Yuyu Rahayu, 63, said that solidarity among locals was most visible during religious holidays. During the Islamic fasting month of Ramadhan, Muslims and non-Muslims alike often hold fast-breaking events together at the local community hall. During Idul Adha, or the Islamic Day of Sacrifice, non-Muslims usually donate two to three cows out of nine to eleven cows to be sacrificed.
Hindu residents of Indian descent often invite their neighbors from other faiths to join in on the celebration as well. Hindu resident Nerej, 35, said that the invitations were always responded to positively, which made it enjoyable for him to live in the neighborhood. “Differences do not keep us apart. They make us stronger,” he said.
The Bandung national and political unity office’s head of ideology and perspective division, Dadang Setiawan, said that harmony in diversity in Babakan Ciparay could serve as an example for people in other communities.
Reflecting from the experiences in RW 012 in Babakan Ciparay, the Bandung city administration is pushing for the establishment of 30 other tolerance villages that would serve as “embryos” for the establishment of one tolerance village in every district in Bandung. Through these villages, Bandung aims to develop a wider reputation as being a city of tolerance. “Apart from Babakan Ciparay, other examples can be found in RW 002 in Paledang sub district, Lengkong district,” Dadang said.
In Paledang, the Al Amanah Mosque is located near the Giri Metta vihara for Taoism adherents. Not far from there, there is the Pentecostal Church for Protestants.
In an interview after an adzan (Islamic call to prayer), a caretaker at Giri Metta vihara, Junior Wong, 63, said that people in Paledang were used to protecting and respecting one another’s faiths and there were no conflicts as a result of this.
When an ethnic riot occurred in Bandung some 44 years ago, Paledang was not affected as people had protected each other regardless of their ethnicity. Junior said that the spirit was still alive and well today. “We are free to pray on the 1st and 15th of every month,” said Junior, who was born in Paledang and speaks Sundanese fluently.
Pastor Daniel Sriyoto from the Pentecostal Church said that people from other faiths often participated in ensuring smooth Sunday services at the church, whether in the form of helping out in the parking lot or ensuring a smooth flow of traffic around the church. “We are used to respecting other faiths. During choir practices in the afternoon, we take breaks during the adzan,” he said.
Indonesian Feeling
Padjadjaran University sociologist Budi Radjab said in Bandung that the two villages are two good examples of Indonesian unity. “They are what Indonesia should be. Mutual assistance and mutual respect across ethnicities and religions,” he said.
According to Budi, such displays of togetherness can still be seen in various regions. At the grassroots level, the spirit of tolerance and mutual assistance is still strongly felt. It is the political elites who commodify religion as a tool to gain power.
“People have known each other for a long time and, therefore, are not easily provoked. This is a strong capital for unity,” said Budi.
At 12:30 a.m., residents of RW 012 in Babakan Ciparay went home one by one.
Before we parted, Leonard told me that he was unfazed by political noise that occurs for certain interests. He and other residents of RW 012 in Babakan Ciparay always strive to be the part of Indonesia that continuously preserves its beauty of diversity.
