Full Statement by JK Regarding Poso-Ambon, Policed by GAMKI et al.

The full statement by Indonesia’s 10th and 12th Vice President Jusuf Kalla (JK) in a lecture at UGM Mosque in Yogyakarta on 5 March 2026 has been reported to the police for alleged blasphemy against the Christian faith by the Central Executive Board of the Indonesian Christian Youth Movement (GAMKI) and related organisations.

The statement was delivered by JK in a lecture titled ‘Indonesia’s Diplomatic Strategy in Mitigating Potential Escalation of Regional Multipolar War’. JK was reported to the police for allegedly insulting Christian teachings in the lecture, which took place during Ramadan.

The GAMKI Central Executive Board and several other organisations acting as complainants questioned JK’s remarks regarding the Poso and Ambon conflicts from the late 1990s to the early 2000s.

They took issue with the phrase ‘martyr’ (syahid) used by JK in relation to the conflicts involving religion, including in Poso and Ambon.

The lecture, which lasted approximately 43 minutes, was also broadcast on the official YouTube channel of UGM Campus Mosque.

The statement likely refers to the early part of JK’s lecture. In the first ten minutes, JK brought up 15 major conflicts in Indonesia stemming from injustice. Two of them were the Poso and Ambon tragedies that escalated into religious conflicts.

“There are also (conflicts) because of religion, although preceded by injustice. Then the result is religious, like Poso, Ambon, DI/TII. Why is religion easily used as a reason for conflict, like in Poso, Ambon. Because both Islam and Christianity believe that dying or killing someone is martyrdom. All parties, Christians also think that way, if I kill a Muslim, I am a martyr, if I die, I am a martyr. Finally, it’s hard to stop if the conflict is taken to religion,” said JK in his lecture, quoted from the UGM Mosque YouTube channel on Monday (14/4).

In the middle of his lecture, JK stated that he helped mediate three of the 15 major conflicts.

It was at this moment that he emphasised that neither Islamic nor Christian teachings guarantee that a killer will enter paradise.

“When in Ambon the city was divided, this is Christian, this is Muslim. If you enter (Christian) territory, you’re beheaded. If you enter Muslim territory, Christians are beheaded. Thousands, nearly five thousand people died just because the killers felt they were martyrs, great. Even if killed, the parents don’t regret it, there’s no crying in regret in Ambon if their child dies, they say my child has entered paradise,” he said.

JK claimed that he, then serving as Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare, decided to go directly to the conflict area, despite many warnings about security risks.

“I spoke with them. Of course, I also entered Muslim areas, but I gave a speech to thousands of people. With just one word, that all of you feel you enter paradise, that’s not true! All of you here who kill people, go to hell! They were shocked. Show me, in Islam and Christianity, which says killing an innocent person enters paradise. Show me, where! In Islam there is none, in Christianity there is none, so all of you go to hell. Everyone stopped. Everyone was silent,” he said.

“The next day I called everyone, I was angry, that you are the first to go to hell. Finally, I said, what sir, talk to me, let’s sit down, and it ended in peace, in Malino,” he continued.

In response to the report filed by GAMKI et al., JK’s spokesperson, Husain Abdullah, also denied the allegations of insulting Christian teachings.

Husain said the viral social media video post lacks the full context. The video in question contains JK’s statement referring to both sides in the Poso and Ambon conflicts using the term ‘dying as a martyr’.

“After investigation, the accusation is the result of context cutting. We firmly deny that accusation,” Husain said when confirmed via written message on Sunday (12/4) night.

Husain explained that JK’s statement actually affirmed that no religion in the world teaches its followers to kill each other.

“This mistaken view of both sides was first corrected by Mr JK, that no religion allows killing each other. This was conveyed to the war commanders at that time,” he said.

In response to the buzz around JK’s lecture, the admin of the UGM Campus Mosque YouTube channel posted a message in the pinned comments starting Monday (12/4).

“Dear congregation, we kindly ask you to watch the video in full, not just the circulating clips. Often, incomplete excerpts can cause misunderstandings because the context of the discussion is not properly conveyed,” the admin wrote in the comments section.

CNNIndonesia.com has obtained permission from the Chairman of the UGM Mosque Takmir Board, Muhammad Yusuf, to quote the content of that comment.

“Let us be fair in assessing something, by looking at it comprehensively before drawing conclusions or spreading it further. If further clarification is needed, please contact the relevant parties directly. Thank you for your attention and prudence,” it concluded.

Previously, GAMKI along with the Expert Council of the Indonesian Christian Community Council (MUKI), Indonesian Pastors Association (API), Pluralism Community Struggle Movement, Central Executive Board of Si Pitung, and Central Executive Board of Horas Bangso Batak reported JK to the police.

In their statement, the GAMKI Central Executive Board quoted excerpts of JK’s controversial statement in the UGM Mosque lecture. According to them, based on recordings circulating on social media, the statement touches on the Poso and Ambon conflicts in the early 2000s.

They took issue with the phrase ‘martyr’ (syahid) used by JK in relation to the religion-involved conflicts, including in Poso and Ambon. GAMKI Central Executive Board General Chairman Sahat Sinurat strongly condemned JK’s statement, stating that Christianity never teaches killing people of different faiths to enter paradise.

The Poso conflict in Central Sulawesi occurred around 1998-2001. The communal riots are often regarded as