Bishops call for reconciliation
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Senior Christian leaders called on Monday for a revival in Indonesia focused on reconciliation among followers of various religions in the aftermath of sectarian fighting and heightened tensions since the international "war on terror" began.
Reconciliation could heal a lot of wounds suffered by the conflict-battered nation, Julius Kardinal Darmaatmadja from the Bishop's Council of Indonesia (KWI) and Natan Setiabudi from the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) said in a joint Christmas message.
The two senior leaders also asked Christians, Muslims and others to bolster the brotherhood among them.
"Celebrating Christmas should be seen as an effort to put aside our interests and to show sensitivity toward the surrounding situation, which we are deeply concerned, particularly those affected by violence and injustice," said the joint statement issued two days ahead of Christmas.
"We should believe and trust that God will bring justice, peace and love, then we can defeat all hatred and resentment among us," it added.
At least 19 people were killed and hundreds others injured in a series of simultaneous bomb attacks on Christmas Eve in 2000 across Indonesia.
This week's celebrations of Christmas have been haunted by increased fears of bomb attacks on churches across the country following the Bali terrorist attack that claimed over 190 people and injured some 300 others, mostly foreigners, on Oct. 12.
The Dec. 5 Makassar attack, which killed three people and wounded 11 others in South Sulawesi, has added to the fears.
The suspects captured so far are Indonesian Muslims, and most have said they intended to kill non-believers or Westerners.
Darmaatmadja and Natan deplored the two incidents as a serious tragedy of humanity. "Such violence is against human values," the statement said.
They said the terrorist attacks have severely ruined all aspects of the country's way of life, such as security and economic recovery, legal enforcement and democratization.
The two Christian leaders urged all religious worshipers to never stop hoping for a better life for Indonesia and the world.
"For those celebrating Christmas Day, let your life become the witness of the living God to bring prosperity to others, to take part in His salvation, and to never lose the faith, so that we can help this nation together to address all these difficulties," the message said.
Indonesia has also seen over three years of religious fighting between Muslims and Christians on the Maluku islands, which has left some 6,000 people dead. Similar conflicts have also rocked Central Sulawesi, where thousands have been killed since 2000.
Two separate peace accords were signed between Muslim and Christian leaders, as well as the government to end the conflicts in Poso and Maluku. But renewed violence has broken out sporadically since then.