DPR, Malik lament shameful recent religious conflicts

DPR, Malik lament shameful recent religious conflicts

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Religious Affairs Malik Fadjar and
House of Representatives (DPR) legislators held an intensive
discussion on Wednesday on recent outbreaks of religious and
ethnic conflict, and agreed the country was witnessing a critical
deterioration in what used to be a harmonious religious
coexistence.

Malik said the unrest -- including one outbreak in Ketapang in
Jakarta and another in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara where angry
mobs attacked and burned churches and mosques -- were shameful
and had eroded the nation's sense of ethics.

"We should question why such conflicts and brutality took
place in our country, which was once known as a religious and
civilized nation?" Malik was quoted by Antara as stating in a
hearing with the House Commission VII on education, religious
affairs, sports, research and technology.

"The incidents in Ketapang and Kupang show how religious
coexistence here is now at a critical juncture... made even
worse by physical conflicts and material losses," Malik said.

"They raised questions, because all this time the government
and religious leaders have been painting a picture of serenity
where there are no problems at all. The sugarcoating takes place
among leaders of the elite level down to those in the lower
levels of the community," he said.

"They raised questions about our religious education and the
development in the sector of religions... We need to ask whether
there's something wrong, or whether there's a greater force from
outside that has pushed us to such brutality," he said.

Earlier last month, mobs attacked and burned a number of
properties belonging to the Christian community in Ketapang, West
Jakarta, including churches and a Catholic school.

In apparent retaliation, mobs of angry people in Kupang, the
capital of the predominately Catholic East Nusa Tenggara,
attacked and burned mosques and properties of the Moslem
community, many of whom were migrants from South Sulawesi.

"I believe the Kupang incident was not only a matter of
religious conflict, but more of a political one," Malik said,
adding how the incidents were dramatized by the foreign media.

"What's saddening was that foreign media plastered the two
incidents on their front pages. It's so shameful for us," Malik
said.

Separately, an organization of migrants from South Sulawesi in
Jakarta called on the government here on Wednesday to thoroughly
investigate the Kupang incident and punish the instigators.

"Don't just give us lip service by saying it will be
investigated, but then have no follow-up," H.A. Pawenei of the
South Sulawesi Family was quoted by Antara as saying.

Pawenei had visited the site of the unrest together with
Catholic scholar Peter Patta Sumbung, the news agency said.

There have been reports that immediately after the attack on
mosques and houses belonging to the Moslem community, various
groups including local Catholic congregations extended their help
for those affected, including the people who had to take shelter
in various places or leave the city for safety. (swe)