Express your concern with an Idul Fitri card

JAKARTA (JP): Activists from a number of religious and ethnic backgrounds have come up with an innovative way to express their concern over the recent riots. They have designed Idul Fitri cards containing messages urging the public to bury the hatchet.

They plan to send the cards to relatives, friends, organizations, officials and acquaintances across Indonesia to renew the spirit of national unity.

The plan was announced yesterday by Moslem activist Ulil Abshar-Abdalla of Nahdlatul Ulama and Catholic priest Father Mudji Sutrisno.

They represented 56 activists who included journalists, religious leaders, artists, singers, human rights workers and playwrights.

Among the signatories are singer Iwan Fals, actress Jajang C. Noer, model Paquita Widjaja, lawyer Nursyahbani Katjasungkana, labor activist Satrio Arismunandar, poet Nirwan Dewanto, painter Semsar Siahaan and poet Tan Lioe Ie.

Ulil said that in addition to the traditional Idul Fitri greeting the card would also convey their concerns over the unrest.

The message says that while the activists are aware of the uneven distribution of the development cake, economic disparity and social injustice should not have been used to justify violence.

"We believe that the unrest occurred partly because the House of Representatives and the political parties have failed to realize the people's aspirations.

"We regret the riots that have generated anti-Chinese, anti- Christian, anti-Islam sentiments and other kinds of shortsighted sectarianism.

"All of them have made us overlook our struggle to uphold democracy in Indonesia," the message said.

Ulil said the cards would be sent to as many people as possible.

Tomorrow Moslems celebrate Idul Fitri, which marks the end of the 30-day fasting month. They usually send Idul Fitri cards to relatives and friends, asking each other for forgiveness.

The religiously and ethnically motivated riots that erupted in Situbondo, Tasikmalaya and Rengasdengklok in Java and Sanggau Ledo in West Kalimantan have claimed more than a dozen lives.

Scores of churches, Buddhist temples, factories, shops, vehicles and government buildings were reduced to ashes in the unrest that targeted mainly Chinese and Christian properties.

In West Kalimantan, the smoldering conflict has pitted native Dayaks and Madurese migrants. The most serious clash broke out on Dec. 30. At least four people were killed and 21 are still missing.

Sporadic clashes are reportedly continuing in the West Kalimantan capital of Pontianak and several subdistricts in the hinterland.

Father Mudji Sutrisno said that during the Idul Fitri holiday, people should look back to the nation's dream: a pluralistic Indonesia.

"The politicization of the riots has hampered our democratization process. This is what we want to remind the public of," said the lecturer at the Driyarkara School of Philosophy.

Ulil pointed out that all the riots were fueled by a lack of proper channels for the people to let off steam.

The Indonesian Christian Participation (Parkindo) has also raised concern over the riots.

"The recent events make us realize how limited our understanding is of the Pancasila state ideology and 1945 Constitution although we have spent enormous amounts of money on Pancasila courses," Parkindo chairman Sabam Sirait said.

Despite the concern in various quarters, Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunication Joop Ave is optimistic the violence will not scare off tourists.

"The riots only have a local impact. They (foreign tourists) do not even know where Rengasdengklok is," Joop was quoted by Antara as saying.

But Joop refused to comment whether the tourist industry would be hit if another riot occurs. "I suggest the press should not speculate on this," he said. (35)