Megawati urges efforts to develop religious pluralism<\/p>\n
Asip A. Hasani, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri has called on the nation to
\nmaintain religious pluralism and tolerance, rather than
\nexploiting religious differences to stoke sectarian violence.<\/p>\n
Addressing more than 300 religious leaders, experts and
\nobservers participating in an international conference on
\nreligion and peace here on Monday, the President urged that
\nefforts be made to develop religious pluralism, so that it would
\nimprove the life of the nation and bring prosperity to the
\npeople.<\/p>\n
\"In the numerous crises and conflicts now taking place,
\nreligious differences that have risen to the surface have
\nfrequently been used as reasons by the conflicting sides, and
\neven as justification for their actions. This situation
\nchallenges us to review the format, character and dynamics of our
\nsociety,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Attending the seminar were 120 religious leaders and experts
\nfrom 24 Asian countries, 58 honorary delegates and 145
\ninternational observers.<\/p>\n
The President was referring to sectarian conflicts in the
\nCentral Sulawesi town of Poso and in Maluku, and the bombings
\nthat have occurred at places of worship across the nation.<\/p>\n
The government and security authorities have been under fire
\nfor their inability to enforce the law, which has prolonged the
\nconflicts in Maluku and Poso. Also, the government has never
\nannounced the results of its investigation into the bomb blasts
\nthat took place at a number of churches during Christmas, 2001.<\/p>\n
Megawati told the participants that for religious pluralism to
\nsurvive and thrive, a common attitude and tolerance had to be
\nestablished.<\/p>\n
\"In my perception, religious tolerance is promoted in the
\nteachings of most religions,\" the President said.<\/p>\n
She said Islam orders its adherents to love, understand and
\ncooperate with one another, as well as teaching equality, common
\ninterests, unanimity, hard work, honesty, wisdom and
\nresponsibility.<\/p>\n
\"I believe other religions have similar concepts as well,\" she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The President said pluralism would never negate religious
\nidentity or freedom of religion, because each religion has its
\nown freedom and way of implementing its teachings.<\/p>\n
Megawati said she hoped dialog and reconciliation would be
\nemphasized in resolving the current sectarian conflicts in the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
\"The world is waiting for concrete action to create a more
\ndemocratic, peaceful and prosperous life, based on social justice
\nand humanity,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Religious leaders and intellectuals must play a role in
\ncreating peace and prosperity, the President said.<\/p>\n
Commenting of the President's statement, noted Christian
\nscholar Th. Sumartana said that relying merely on religion to
\nresolve social conflicts was utopian thinking.<\/p>\n
\"Social conflicts such as those in Maluku and Poso require
\nsimultaneous efforts in the legal, economic, political and
\nreligious fields,\" he told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
\"The goodwill of the leaders of the conflicting communities
\nwill be useless if it is always negated by the interests of
\npoliticians and others within the government. Firm measures by
\nthe government are badly needed here as the security forces have
\nto be handled correctly, especially the Indonesian Military
\n(TNI).<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, chairman of the country's second largest Muslim
\norganization Muhammadiyah, Ahmad Syafi'i Maarif, said the
\nleaders' words did not reflect the reality.<\/p>\n
\"That's our fundamental weakness as a nation. Leaders are not
\nreally aware of what they tell the public. They are not aware
\nthat the reality -- like what's really happening in conflict-torn
\nareas -- needs concrete decisions,\" Syafi'i told the Post.<\/p>\n
Corruption and worsening security conditions in conflict areas
\nwhich had not yet recovered were, in fact, caused by the absence
\nof firm action on the part of both the central and local
\ngovernments, he said.<\/p>\n
\"The President's suggestion that religious leaders should play
\nan important and crucial role in conflict resolution is good. We,
\nalong with the Nahdlatul Ulama (the largest Muslim organization)
\nhave worked to build close ties with other religions,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The conference will last until June 28. Similar conferences
\nwere held earlier in Singapore, India, South Korea, Nepal and
\nThailand.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/megawati-urges-efforts-to-develop-religious-pluralism-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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