Cultural gaps define sectarian conflicts, observers say

Jupriadi, The Jakarta Post, Makassar, South Sulawesi

Cultural observers and experts concluded on Friday that different perceptions of other cultures have been in most cases responsible for the sectarian conflicts plaguing the country.

"The situation has been worsened by the absence of open minds able to accept the differences between cultures ... An improvement in education about cultural values is needed," said Ayatrohadi, a cultural observer, at the conclusion of the 2002 Archipelago Cultural Meeting here.

The two-day meeting which ended on Friday was attended by at least 149 representatives from 14 princely dynasties and experts from across the country, and involved a joint attempt to find a formula that could be used to avoid conflicts in the regions and to establish a discourse on the variety of cultures in Indonesian.

The participants including the Yogyakarta and Surakarta sultanates, Mataram in West Nusa Tenggara, Padang in West Sumatra, and the hosts from the Gowa and Bone sultanates in South Sulawesi.

A team was set up to formulate conclusions and recommendations arising from the meeting, with members including noted observers Mochtar Pabottingi, Abu Hamid, Anhar Gonggong, Darmawan Masud, Alfian Mallarangeng, Hamid Awaluddin and Rahman Arge.

The team arrived at seven conclusions and four recommendations.

Among the recommendations, the team highlighted the need to seek out the values of ancient cultures in order to find basic values on which the nation could base the quest for justice in the future.

It also recommended an overhaul of the education system aimed at teaching democratic principles to future generations.

"The recommendations will soon be submitted to President Megawati Soekarnoputri for putting into effect," said Yogyakarta's Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, who headed the formulating team, while officially closing the meeting.

The sultan said the government was now facing a challenging test in upholding the tenets of the various Indonesian cultures, a test that included cross-cultural conflicts as well as external factors, such as the recent terror bombings on Bali.

"This meeting is an effort to maintain our cultural identity, as well as to re-establish the spirit of honorable civilization.

"All ethnic groups together with the government have to awaken. And Jakarta should also comprehend the wishes of regional ethnic groups to build a harmonious dialogue," the Sultan remarked.