Declaration inked to reject violence, misuse of religion

M. Taufiqurrahman and A. Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Political parties, religious leaders and activists signed a declaration on Wednesday, calling on all parties to reject violence and the misuse of religion during election campaigns.

Campaigners should "not use religion as a political commodity," Center for Electoral reform (Cetro) executive director Smita Notosusanto said at the signing.

Smita said the declaration urged all religious councils and local leaders nationwide to disseminate its message to help maintain the credibility of this year's elections.

However, the declaration, initiated by Cetro and the Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University, was supported by only six of the 24 political parties contesting the elections.

They were the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, the Golkar Party, the National Mandate Party, the Star Reform Party, the New Indonesia Alliance Party and the Pioneer Party.

Islamic, Catholic, Buddhist and Confucian religious leaders also supported the declaration. Islamic leaders included Syafii Maarif, head of the country's second largest Islamic organization Muhammadiyah; Nasharuddin Umar, deputy head of the largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama; and Dien Syamsuddin, deputy of the Indonesia Ulema Council.

Nasharuddin urged political parties to avoid citing verses from the Koran in their campaigns, especially to insult each other.

Citing versus from the holy books of different religions had become an important tool to appeal to the masses in past elections.

However, Dien, who is also Muhammadiyah's deputy leader, said as long as they were not used to attack others, the use of Koranic verses in a campaign should be permitted.

Article 74 of the Election Law 12/2003 rules campaigners must not insult individuals on the grounds of religion, race, or social group. Political parties are also not allowed to use campaigns "to incite or provoke (conflict) between individuals or groups." Places of worship and educational and government facilities may not be used for campaign meetings.

On the same day, before thousands of the Prosperous Peace Party supporters packing the Sumantri Brojonegoro sports stadium in Kuningan, South Jakarta, a party legislative candidate Constant M. Ponggawa cited a verse from the Psalms in his campaign speech.

It said peace was the key ingredient to create prosperity. Constant urged party supporters to promote peace and dialog.

The air of religiosity thickened nearing the end of the rally when evangelist priest Gilbert Lumoindong took the stage. Quoting Proverbs, the priest said virtue would elevate a nation to a higher plane, while vice would degrade it.

He said that, as a Christian, one must act in accordance with the word of God and the values written in the faith's holy books.