Soeharto calls for harmony<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto yesterday guaranteed every
\ncitizen of the right to practice their own religion but stressed
\nthat everyone must work to promote peaceful coexistence between
\nthe various religious communities in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Soeharto said that freedom of religious is guaranteed under
\nthe 1945 Constitution and Pancasila, the state ideology.<\/p>\n
\"The diversity of religions and their adherents in Indonesia
\nshould not divide the people and undermine national unity,\" he
\nsaid while receiving participants of the national congress of the
\nIndonesian Bishops Assembly (KWI) at the State Palace.<\/p>\n
Julius Cardinal Darmaatmadja, who led the congress
\nparticipants, including 34 bishops and hundreds of other Roman
\nCatholic leaders, briefed the President on the congress, which
\nwas officially closed yesterday with a solemn Holy Mass.<\/p>\n
Soeharto said Indonesia's pluralism and diversity should be
\nregarded as providing color in the archipelago's \"flower garden.\"<\/p>\n
\"We should let colorful flowers grow and blossom in the
\natmosphere of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika,\" he said, using the national
\nmotto \"Unity in Diversity.\"<\/p>\n
\"Our goal is a nation in which all citizens, regardless of
\ntheir religion, ethnicity or race, can improve their welfare,
\nphysically and spiritually,\" he said.<\/p>\n
While saying that freedom of religion is a basic human right
\nguaranteed by the state, the President said the various religious
\ncommunities must be able to live in harmony. \"Only within such a
\npeace and harmony, can we attain our national goal,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Later in the day, Cardinal Darmaatmadja said that during the
\nmeeting with the President, he had pledged the Roman Catholic
\ncommunity's commitment to supporting the national development
\nprogram, something that was underlined at the congress.<\/p>\n
Commitment<\/p>\n
\"The Church's commitment was renewed and discussed in depth
\nduring the congress, which also reviewed the role it has played
\nbefore and since Indonesia's independence,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He cited as examples I.J. Kasimo, Slamet Rijadi and Yos
\nSudarso among Roman Catholic figures who have been immortalized
\nas national heroes for their contribution to national
\nindependence and development.<\/p>\n
Cardinal Darmaatmadja, who at the media conference was
\naccompanied by KWI Secretary General Mgr. Martinus Dogma
\nSitumorang OFM Cap and Mgr Yos Sautan OSC, also responded to
\nquestions about a controversial ruling in the predominantly Roman
\nCatholic province of East Timor, concerning the building of
\nhouses of worship by non-Catholics.<\/p>\n
A decree by East Timor Governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares
\nrequires non-Catholics to obtain permission from the local
\nCatholic parish priest before building such houses.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Ulemas Council says the degree has prevented
\nthe minority Moslem community in East Timor from even repairing
\nthe mosques that were damaged during the riots in the province in
\nSeptember.<\/p>\n
Cardinal Darmaatmadja said that, while the ruling runs counter
\nto the principle of freedom of religion guaranteed by the state,
\nthe Roman Catholic community has been subjected to the same
\nrequirement in many parts of Indonesia where they are a minority.<\/p>\n
Many Roman Catholic communities in Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan
\nand Sulawesi have faced problems in building churches because the
\nregulations require them to obtain the consent of the local
\ncommunity leaders.<\/p>\n
A 1969 joint decree by the ministers of religious affairs and
\nhome affairs ruled that houses of worship can only be built with
\nthe consent of the local people. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/soeharto-calls-for-harmony-1447893297",
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