Dialogs needed to reduce suspicion: Darmaputera
Dialogs needed to reduce suspicion: Darmaputera
JAKARTA (JP): A Christian leader said yesterday that the
often-strained relations between Moslems and Christians are the
result of mutual suspicion of cross-proselytizing.
Reverend Eka Darmaputera said Moslems are wary of what they
see as a "Christianization" campaign, while Christians feel the
same way about "Islamization". Only continuous dialog can help
reduce this suspicion, he said.
Darmaputera was speaking at an ongoing seminar on Indonesian
culture jointly organized by Indonesia's five religious-based
intellectuals' associations: ICMI (Moslems), ISKA (Roman
Catholics), PIKI (Christians), FCHI (Hindus) and KCBI
(Buddhists).
Yesterday's discussion was the second of the three-day
gathering, which was opened by President Soeharto. The event aims
to examine Indonesian culture from various perspectives,
including security and defense, technology, traditional values,
education and religion.
Darmaputera, representing the PIKI, said dialogs should be
held, not in order to iron out differences and turn them into
similarities, but rather as a means of solving problems arising
because of the mutual suspicion. He said dialog is also needed
for both parties to see for themselves whether or not the
suspicions are justified.
Indonesia, which has the largest Moslem population in the
world, recognizes five religions: Islam, Protestantism,
Catholicism, Buddhism and Hinduism.
Another participant in the seminar, A.M. Fatwa of ICMI,
supported the call for more dialog. "Differences, no matter how
small, can threaten national unity," he said.
He also spoke of the need for tolerance from every group. He
said that, for example, during the Old Order administration,
Moslems sacrificed a great deal for the sake of unity by allowing
the abolition of the sentence "the obligation to implement
Islamic laws for Moslems" from Indonesia's draft constitution.
"It's one of the biggest sacrifices made by Indonesian
Moslems," he said.
Fatwa also spoke of misunderstandings between religious
groups, particularly in connection with political life. He said
there are segments in society who have misgivings about "Moslem
domination", heralded by the growing influence of the Association
of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI).
The organization, established in 1991, lists President
Soeharto and Vice President Try Sutrisno, both in their personal
capacities, as leaders of its board of patrons. Chaired by State
Minister for Research and Technology B.J. Habibie, ICMI's
membership also includes other ministers and high-ranking
officials.
"The issue of Moslem domination should not have arisen," Fatwa
said. (01)