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)