Balinese urged to curb anger over Hindu slur

Balinese urged to curb anger over Hindu slur

JAKARTA (JP): Religious and community leaders have called for
peace among the Balinese following outbursts of anger over a
cabinet minister's remarks about their Hindu religion, citing
that certain parties might manipulate the situation to raise the
issue of separatism.

The religious leaders also believed, however, the government
still needed to take firm action against State Minister of Food
and Horticulture A.M. Saefuddin for remarks that insulted Hindus.

The secretary-general of the Association of Parisadha Hindu
Dharma of Indonesia, Gunada, was quoted by Antara as saying in
the Bali capital Denpasar on Sunday that the Balinese had never
thought about establishing a separate state.

"Recent demonstrations which called for A.M. Saefuddin's
resignation or for a free Bali state should not be looked at as a
negative thing," Gunada said. "They were an emotional outburst.
The Balinese love the fact that they are part of Indonesia."

"The call for separation from Indonesia did not reflect the
wishes of the general public. It was a spontaneous outburst of
emotion," he added.

Bali Governor Dewa Made Beratha separately refuted suggestions
that the Balinese would boycott the upcoming general election if
Saefuddin refused to resign.

"This is simply a matter of Hindus being offended because
their religion has been insulted. So it has nothing to do with
political matters," Beratha said in Denpasar, Antara reported.

He labeled as "rumors," the calls for Bali to be an
independent state if President B.J. Habibie did not relieve
Saefuddin of his ministerial post.

I Wayan Sudirta, chairman of the Indonesian Hindu Study Center
(YSHI) in Denpasar, agreed.

"I don't believe Balinese have a desire to establish a 'Free
Bali' state. Even if there is, it could have been just a tactic
to get the one who insulted Hinduism heavily punished," he was
quoted by Antara as saying. He added the calls for strong action
against "the defamer" had not been addressed properly.

Beratha and Sudirta's assertions that it was not likely the
Balinese really wanted a separate state was supported by members
of the Indonesian Hindu Students Committee (KMHDI) and the
Indonesian Hindu Intellectuals Forum (FCHI) in Jakarta.

Also in Jakarta, politicians Theo L. Sambuaga and Lukman Harun
of Golkar, and political observers Lt. Gen. (ret) Hasnan Habib
and Muhammad Budyatna of the University of Indonesia separately
expressed doubt about the real strength of Balinese separatism.

Theo believed Saefuddin's recent apology was sufficient and
that the furor should be laid to rest, but Hasnan and Budyatna
called on President Habibie to heed the calls that Saefuddin be
fired.

"The government's credibility won't wane just because it fires
a senior official whose words often cause trouble," Hasnan was
quoted by Antara as saying.

Budyatna concurred. "Rather than letting him become a thorn in
the flesh who will create more trouble, I think Habibie must be
sensitive to the disintegration threat. It's better that
Saefuddin be replaced," he said.

Theo, also state minister of public housing, said: "Pak
Saefuddin has apologized openly for his mistakes. I am sure as a
big and heterogeneous nation, we will respect that and invoke our
sense of nationhood."

Lukman said: "For me, the solution to the problem was almost
reached with minister Saefuddin's apology, so there's no longer
any need to make polemic out of it," Lukman said.

On Sunday in Bengkulu, the capital of Bengkulu province,
popular opposition leader Amien Rais said he felt it would be
better if the Balinese accepted Saefuddin's apology.

"If he's fired from his ministerial post, I feel that it's not
exactly right, let's just forgive each other," said the chairman
of the National Mandate Party (PAN) after inaugurating the
party's Bengkulu provincial chapter.

In his remarks on next year's presidential election, Saefuddin
of the minority United Development Party (PPP) said recently he
would make a better presidential candidate than Megawati
Soekarnoputri of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI)
Perjuangan.

Contending that Megawati was a Hindu, he questioned whether
predominantly Moslem Indonesia would accept a non-Moslem
president. Megawati is in fact a Moslem. (aan)