Declaration inked to reject violence, misuse of religion

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.