Issues that haunt Indonesia

Issues that haunt Indonesia

The communal clash that broke out last Saturday, June 5, in the town of Timika in Indonesia's Papua province -- in which four people were killed and almost 100 injured -- proves that ethnic, religious, racial and intergroup issues continue to haunt the country, and could turn into serious problems.

This is the right time for presidential and vice presidential candidates to show how they intend to solve these issues. So far, candidates have promised to make the situation in the country more stable and peaceful, but have failed to present the best formula to fulfill their promises.

There is an urgent need for efforts to settle ethnic, religious, racial and intergroup problems, which are like a time bomb that could blow up the country's unity and cohesion. Indonesia has had different governments, but none of them has been able to solve these problems thoroughly.

Indonesia, as a pluralistic country, should actually have a formula on how to deal with social problems among people of different religions, ethnic backgrounds and racial groups.

Anthropologists, sociologists and religious figures who have joined political parties should contribute their ideas on how to settle these issues.

They should actually be able to create tolerance among the people through cultural approaches, as another way of solving social problems. -- Media Indonesia, Jakarta