INDONESIA: Indonesia Announces Construction of Basilica in New Capital Nusantara

Posted by Asia Views | Dec 5, 2024 | 0 |

JakartaGlobe-Dec 4

The Indonesian government, through the Public Works Ministry, has announced plans to build a basilica in the capital city of Nusantara, East Kalimantan. The project is currently awaiting the announcement of the auction winner.

Deputy Minister of Public Works Diana Kusumastuti confirmed the plan in Jakarta on Tuesday. Diana said the tender process is already underway. The basilica will be the first of its kind in Indonesia and will be named the Basilica of Nusantara Saint Francis Xavier. This project is a collaboration between the Public Works Ministry, the Religious Affairs Ministry, the Indonesian Bishops’ Conference, and the Nusantara Capital Authority (OIKN). The basilica is expected to serve as a symbol of interfaith harmony in Indonesia. The selection of Saint Francis Xavier as the patron saint of the basilica carries deep significance, as Saint Francis Xavier is known as a missionary who brought Christianity to Asia, including Indonesia, and is regarded as a unifying figure.

Archbishop of Samarinda, Mgr. Yustinus Harjosusanto, said that a basilica is a special church that requires the Pope’s approval, and the location of the basilica in Nusantara holds symbolic meaning in the context of unity and diversity. The design of the basilica will reflect local culture and history, as well as distinctive Catholic architectural elements. The construction of this basilica is not only important in a religious context but also as a cultural and historical event, expected to become a pilgrimage site for Catholics from Indonesia and around the world. The coexistence of various places of worship in Nusantara, such as mosques, churches, and temples, underscores Indonesia’s commitment to religious tolerance and harmony. Read more at:

https://jakartaglobe.id/news/indonesia-announces-construction-of-basilica-in-new-capital-nusantara

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EXTRICATING NDONESIAN CHILDREN FROM ISIS INFLUENCE ABROAD

Indonesia urgently needs to revisit the possibility of repatriating the neediest of its young citizens stranded abroad, whose families had earlier joined ISIS. Most of these children are in camps in northern Syria but there are also small numbers in the Philippines, Afghanistan and Iraq. “Extricating Indonesian Children from ISIS Influence Abroad”, the latest report from the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC) argues that the government could begin by bringing back small groups of unaccompanied children under ten years of age, who pose minimal security risk and are most vulnerable to deteriorating conditions in the camps.“The problem is that health and security conditions are worsening by the day in the Syrian camps, and the children are growing older,” says Dyah Kartika, IPAC analyst. “They need access to schools, a nurturing environment, and medical attention. If the government waits too long, the children will be further exposed to ISIS ideology.” The new report examines a 2019 list of Indonesians in camps and prisons run by the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The Indonesian government has been trying to verify their citizenship, but with pseudonyms, misspellings and bad transliterations, it is a daunting task. At the time the data was collected, between March and June 2019, there were 555 Indonesians in SDF camps and prisons, including 367 children. Among the children, approximately 277 were under the age of ten and 34 were unaccompanied. In June 2021, there are fewer than ten children who are both unaccompanied and under the age of ten that could be prioritized for return. Bringing back children of ISIS families is no easy task. The report analyses the main challenges faced by the Indonesian government. These include definitional issues, bureaucratic competition, the difficulty of verifying nationality, evaluating the toll of exposure to conflict, assessing security risk, and finding relatives or others willing to provide care once the children are returned. In addition, COVID has meant stringent restrictions on travel, placing further obstacles in the way of repatriation. There are several models for rehabilitation of children exposed to violent extremism in Indonesia that could be modified to accommodate the needs of children repatriated from abroad. The report examines these models and argues that the government does not need to have every detail of rehabilitation programs in place before it starts extricating children from ISIS influence. It can start by bringing back the most vulnerable children and then modify programs as needed.

“It’s important that the government see these children as victims” says Dyah. “They deserve a chance to be children again.”

INDONESIA: Indonesia Announces Construction of Basilica in New Capital Nusantara

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