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IL News 007/2016
IKAN (Iman Kristen dan Masalah Aktual Negara, translated as Christian Faith and Current State Problems) Discussion Forum
Jakarta, February 26th, 2016
The idea to resurrect the Guidelines for State Policy or known as GBHN, has been surfacing lately. Several groups openly welcome the suggestion, believing that the development in Indonesia needs to have a long term and sustainable plan. While others see that the State Policy has already been mentioned in the Constitution that regulates the Long Term Development Strategy, it was also included in the Opening of the 1945 Constitution so there is no need to resurrect the GBHN. Aside from that, resurrecting the GBHN might change the state system of Indonesia. There has been many yays and nays. Various opinions were delivered. In order to understand the State Policy (GBHN) discourse, Leimena Institute organized the IKAN Forum on Friday, February 26th, 2016 from 1.30 to 3.30 pm at Atlet Century Hotel, Senayan, Jakarta.
The IKAN forum is a meeting forum of State Leaders in the Legislative, Executive, and Judicative divisions, also people who are concerned to State Problems, wanting to understand these problems in the Christian principals, to find out whether it can contribute to solve current state problems. Thus, State Leaders will be able to do more in regards of their role as salt and light for Indonesia and the world.
The forum was attended by around 20 people, and was moderated by Budi Setiamarga, Director of Center for Religion and State Studies (CRSS) Leimena Institute. The presentation surrounding the issue of GBHN was presented by Yasonna Laoly, the current Minister of Law and Human Rights, Republic of Indonesia, as the discussion starter. The next presentation was presented by Jakob Tobing, President of Leimena Institute, with an explanation on the historical background of the existence of GBHN and its relation to the Amendment of the 1945 Constitution. Pataniari Siahaan, member of DPR-RI (Indonesian People’s representative) 1999-2009, then gave an explanation on whether or not GBHN is actually needed in its relation to the State’s long term plans, several which have been mention in the Constitution. Rev. Andreas A. Yewangoe, Chairman of the PGI (Indonesian Council of Churches) Consultative Assembly, reminded the attendees that despite of whether the GBHN is needed or not, we have to be concerned with the issues of human development as a whole, since the development in Indonesia isn’t only about physical development, but also about the spiritual and moral development. The discussion on State Policy was later elaborated by the attendees, among them were Rev. Henriette Lebang, Chairperson of PGI (Indonesian Council of Churches) 2014-2019, Maruarar Siahaan, rector of Indonesian Christian University-Jakarta, and Gayus Lumbun, Indonesian Supreme Court Judge.