Indonesian unity always in fragile state: Wahono<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia as a nation could break apart if any
\none group in its highly diversified society seeks to impose its
\nwill on others, House speaker Wahono said on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Wahono said strong nationalism has helped keep the country
\nunited but that the situation remains precarious because of the
\nmix of religious and ethnic groups.<\/p>\n
\"Problems could arise if this peaceful coexistence is
\ndisrupted, for example by one of its elements seeking dominance
\nor hegemony,\" he said in the seminar that was organized by the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party (PDI).<\/p>\n
The presence of Wahono, a former chairman of the ruling
\npolitical group Golkar, as a keynote speaker at the PDI seminar
\nraised eyebrows, especially at a time when most other Golkar
\nleaders were taking part in the congress of the Association of
\nIndonesian Moslem Intellectuals.<\/p>\n
Also present at the seminar was PDI chairwoman Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri. Leading Moslem scholar Abdurrahman Wahid, who is
\nalso chairman of the 30-million strong Nahdlatul Ulama, was also
\nscheduled to address the meeting.<\/p>\n
Wahono said in his speech that history is filled with inter-
\nreligious wars dating back centuries, some of which are still
\nbeing waged to this day.<\/p>\n
Conflicts between religious communities are generally the
\nresult of mutual suspicion and enmity, with each camp usually
\nclaiming to strive for the blessing of God, he said.<\/p>\n
He pointed to the violent conflicts in Bosnia between Roman
\nCatholics and Moslems, between Catholics and Protestants in
\nNorthern Ireland, and between Jews, Christians and Moslems in the
\nMiddle East. He also cited the conflict in Sudan between Moslems
\nand Christians, between Buddhists and Hindus in Sri Lanka, and
\nthe cross-border conflict between Christian Armenia and Moslem
\nAzerbaijan.<\/p>\n
\"What is really sad is that in most of these cases, religion
\nis being used as the main component in the human destruction
\nmachine. This is something that is totally contradictory to all
\nreligions that exist on the face of earth,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The problem could potentially develop in Indonesia, Wahono
\nwarned, adding that the integrity of the country is something
\nthat every element in society must work for.<\/p>\n
The various religious communities in Indonesia must hold
\ncontinuous dialogs to strengthen the sense of nationalism and
\nnarrow the disparities that exist.<\/p>\n
\"They should cultivate a feeling of solidarity in the sense
\nthat we all share the responsibility for the fate of all
\ncitizens,\" he said. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesian-unity-always-in-fragile-state-wahono-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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