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)