Religious leaders pledge to support government<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Christian and Moslem leaders have expressed
\nconcern over the deepening economic crisis and pledged to support
\nthe government's efforts to end it.<\/p>\n
The Communion of Churches in Indonesia said it would be "very
\nirresponsible" for the government to work alone to end the
\nturmoil.<\/p>\n
"It would be very unchristian," said the statement signed by
\ncommunion chief Sularso Sopater and secretary J.M. Pattiasina.<\/p>\n
Christians constitute only about 10 percent of the
\npredominantly Moslem Indonesia but they form vibrant communities
\nacross the country.<\/p>\n
Moslems make up about 90 percent of the country's 202 million
\npopulation, according to official figures.<\/p>\n
The communion called on Christians to set aside their
\nindividual or group interests in times of national crisis.<\/p>\n
On Monday night, 30 Moslem organizations also expressed
\nconcern over the deepening economic crisis and vowed to back the
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
Spearheaded by the Indonesian Ulemas Council, the
\norganizations pledged to unite and work shoulder to shoulder with
\nthe government and the Armed Forces.<\/p>\n
In a joint statement signed by council chief Hasan Basri and
\nsecretary Nazri Adani, the Moslem leaders said they would
\nmobilize support for the government to normalize the economy and
\nhandle problems arising from the crisis.<\/p>\n
The Christian and Moslem leaders specifically affirmed their
\nsupport for the economic reforms the government is implementing
\nto regain trust in the administration.<\/p>\n
The Moslem leaders urged the government to continue taking
\nconcrete steps to economically empower the masses.<\/p>\n
The communion of churches said, "We hope the fundamental
\nchanges in social, economic, political and cultural policies will
\nresult in better public trust (of the government)."<\/p>\n
It warned improvements would be hard to come by if the nation
\nalways sought scapegoats in periods of hardship.<\/p>\n
"The nation should not hesitate to admit that Indonesia is
\ncurrently in big trouble... We don't have to be ashamed to
\nacknowledge we are moving backward.<\/p>\n
"But it's better than if we force ourselves to move forward
\nbut then stumble and fall in exhaustion. Now is time for the
\nnation to introspect," the statement said. (pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/religious-leaders-pledge-to-support-government-1447893297",
"image": ""
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