PGI asks U.S. to stop attacks<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) urged the U.S on
\nFriday to stop its air strikes in Afghanistan and resolve the
\nconflict through the United Nations.<\/p>\n
PGI chairman Natan Setiabudi said that the U.S.-Afghan
\nconflict had brought about worrying ramifications for inter-
\nreligious relations in Indonesia as well as elsewhere.<\/p>\n
Natan said PGI was deeply concerned over the widespread
\nmisperception that the Afghan-U.S. war was an attack on Islam by
\nthe Christian West.<\/p>\n
\"We appeal to the public to see this issue wisely and in a
\nclear perspective. It is clearly not a religious war. It's about
\nAmericans attacking people they perceive as terrorists and the
\nforces that provide them protection,\" Natan said in a news
\nbriefing.<\/p>\n
PGI called on the Indonesian government and volunteers to
\nfocus on humanitarian aid for the innocent Afghans who are
\nsuffering the most from the military action.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia is struggling hard to free itself from the severe
\ncrisis and this needs solid cooperation among all components of
\nsociety,\" he said.<\/p>\n
PGI called on the public not to exploit the different stands
\nthat the government and certain groups in the society had taken.<\/p>\n
\"We are worried that the Afghan-American conflict will be
\nexploited to make it look like it were a Christian-Muslim war,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
On the government's stand, which stopped short of condemning
\nthe U.S. attacks on Afghanistan, Natan said that the PGI could
\nunderstand the government's difficult position in the issue.<\/p>\n
\"This is a delicate issue and everyone should see this
\nrealistically,\" he said.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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