Avoid intervention in religion: ICRP<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Conference on Religion and Peace (ICRP) issued
\na \"moral political contract\" on Wednesday, urging presidential
\ncandidates, if elected, not to intervene in religious affairs and
\nnot to discriminate against any particular religion.<\/p>\n
\"We will soon send the contract to the presidential
\ncandidates,\" ICRP president Djohan Effendi said after opening a
\ntwo-day workshop titled \"Building a new moral political
\ncontract\". It follows similar talks in Jakarta; Medan, North
\nSumatra; Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara; Manado, North Sulawesi, and
\nBanjarmasin, South Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
Speakers included sociologist Francisia Seda. The talks are
\nbeing held by ICRP and the Society for Interreligious Dialog
\n(Madia) with the Partnership for Governance in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Djohan, a noted scholar on Islam, also said the new president
\nshould not endorse the bill on religious harmony as it was viewed
\nas state intervention in religious affairs.<\/p>\n
Building a new moral political contract is the most urgent
\nactivity aimed at democratization, a media release from the
\nworkshop said, \"which can serve as a foundation on which to build
\nour destroyed political civilization\".<\/p>\n
The contract would not only involve the presidential
\ncandidates but also religious leaders and their communities,
\nwhich would need the \"civil courage\" to enforce the contract
\naimed at appreciating the plurality of faiths and religions in
\nthe country. This could \"serve as a foundation for the creation
\nof good, responsible governance,\" the release said.<\/p>\n
The \"moral political contract\", among other things, obliges
\nthe new president to \"settle past human rights violations\" in
\naccordance with the law and revoke all discriminatory policies
\nregarding religion. It should, instead, recognize all religions
\nand faiths, and the Ministry of Religious Affairs should focus on
\npolicies protecting all groups.<\/p>\n
The new president must also guarantee civil rights, the
\ncontract says.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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