Beware of politicization of religion: Bishops

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Bishops' Conference (KWI) ended its annual meeting here yesterday, calling for religious believers to be wary of interest groups using religion for their own political purposes.

"Religious believers should not knowingly be used for purposes incompatible with the essence of religion," KWI Secretary-General M.D. Situmorang said in a statement.

He went on to say, "Never use religion or religious groups for whatever purpose, which is not in accordance with the nobility of the religion".

The conference addressed the recent religious riots in East Java, and the controversy over East Timorese Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo's critical remarks on the military.

On the two issues, the conference stated, "Everything will be better if the dignity of every human being is duly respected, if law is properly enforced, and if there is goodwill to work for the best of the nation".

A religious riot shook the East Java town of Situbondo and its surrounding townships where two dozen churches were reduced to ashes or damaged, and where some government buildings were vandalized.

The violence reportedly involved people unhappy with a five- year jail term, demanded by a prosecutor at a local court, for a Moslem standing trial for allegedly insulting a respected Moslem leader.

The government, the National Commission on Human Rights and the church have conducted separate investigations into the incident.

The just-ended conference was shadowed by public demonstrations and criticisms of Bishop Belo, who attended the meeting, for his critical remarks in an interview with German magazine Der Spiegel.

Concluding, the meeting called on Christians to promote religious tolerance and work together with those from other religions. (pan)