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)