Soeharto accords role to religious intellectuals<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Religious-based intellectual organizations,
\nwidely criticized recently for fostering sectarian politics in
\nIndonesia, yesterday won the presidential seal of approval when
\nthey jointly organized a seminar on human resource development.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto told the seminar that religious
\nintellectuals play a major role in national development,
\nincluding promoting the country's religious life.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has succeeded in promoting harmony between its
\nvarious religious communities, he said. \"Our nation is now moving
\ntowards a more noble goal -- promoting a sense of joint
\nresponsibility between the various religious communities towards
\ndevelopment.<\/p>\n
\"Because they employ rational thinking, intellectuals can
\neasily communicate with one another, irrespective of faith,\"
\nSoeharto said. \"Therefore, intellectuals who come from a variety
\nof religious backgrounds can take the lead in promoting this
\nsense of joint responsibility among the various religious
\ncommunities.\"<\/p>\n
The idea of the seminar, the first time that the various
\nreligious-based organizations worked together on a project, was
\nconceived late last year when the groups were criticized for
\nreviving sectarian politics in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The seminar is jointly organized by four of the five
\nreligious-based intellectual groupings: ICMI (Moslems), PIKI
\n(Christians), FCHI (Hindus) and KCBI (Buddhists). ISKA, grouping
\nRoman Catholic intellectuals, is not involved but it is expected
\nto take part in future joint projects.<\/p>\n
There had been calls earlier for these various organizations
\nto merge into a single group, but the idea failed to garner
\nsupport from those associations.<\/p>\n
ICMI, chaired by B.J. Habibie, a powerful cabinet minister,
\nhas been criticized for promoting sectarian politics because many
\nof its leaders are active in politics. Habibie stressed that ICMI
\nmembers do not represent the organization while they are active
\nin politics.<\/p>\n
Soeharto acknowledged that intellectuals have been one of the
\nmain forces in the history of the national struggle, both before
\nand after independence.<\/p>\n
\"The history of our national struggle shows that our
\nintellectuals have a tradition of appearing in the front line,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
He cited as examples the establishment in 1908 of Budi Utomo,
\nthe first national movement when Indonesia was still a Dutch
\ncolony, and the 1928 Youth Pledge, when young people from various
\nparts of Indonesia gathered in Jakarta to pronounce their
\nintention to form one nation, one country and one language.<\/p>\n
Intellectuals also helped lay the basis for an independent
\nIndonesia and have participated in the nation-building process
\nsince independence in 1945, he added.<\/p>\n
The seminar on human resource development will proceed today
\nand tomorrow at the Kartika Chandra Hotel in Jakarta. Among the
\nprominent figures scheduled to address the gathering include
\nformer ministers Rudini and Emil Salim, and intellectuals
\nNurcholish Madjid, Salim Said, Dawam Rahardjo, M.M. Papayungan, I
\nGusti Ngurah Bagus, Sabam Sirait and Amir Santoso.<\/p>\n
Soeharto said Indonesia has passed the test of promoting
\npeaceful co-existence between the various religions, something
\nwhich only a few other countries in the world have managed.<\/p>\n
Many other countries are witnessing upheavals due to the rise
\nof religious fanaticism or conflicts between various sects of the
\nsame religion, making life miserable even for their followers, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"We hope that what we have achieved in this field can
\ncontribute to human civilization,\" he said. \"The world has
\nexperienced many conflicts between states and the religious
\ncommunities, something which need not have happened.\" (emb)<\/p>",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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