JK Gathers Poso-Ambon Peace Figures Amid Religious Blasphemy Accusations

Former 10th and 12th Vice President of Indonesia, Jusuf Kalla (JK), held a meeting with figures involved in the peace negotiations for the Poso and Ambon conflicts in the early 2000s. The meeting took place at the JS Luwansa Hotel in Kuningan, South Jakarta, on Tuesday (21/4). JK stated that the gathering was to provide explanations to the public regarding the context of his sermon at UGM Mosque that went viral. Attendees included Reverend John Ruhulessin from the Protestant Church of Maluku, Reverend Rinaldi Damanik as a delegate in the Malino I negotiations, and Ustaz Sugiyanto Kaimuddin as a Muslim delegate in the Malino I negotiations. “So what was conveyed was the situation at that time. All of them (the attendees) even cried, saying that if I hadn’t resolved [the mediation of the Poso and Ambon conflicts], imagine what would have happened to them. That’s the discussion we had,” JK explained to reporters after the meeting at the JS Luwansa Hotel in Kuningan, South Jakarta, on Tuesday (21/4). “And everyone agreed that this [alleged defamer] must be opposed, all those who want to stir things up,” he added. JK said that in today’s meeting, all figures involved in the Poso and Ambon peace negotiations—Malino I and Malino II—agreed that the content of his sermon at UGM Mosque during last Ramadan had no connection to religious blasphemy. The man who is also the General Chairman of the Indonesian Mosque Council (DMI) emphasised that all accusations against him of blaspheming religion are untrue. “Basically, they [the accusers] must understand that what was reported is all untrue. The perpetrators themselves [the negotiation figures], the Synod Chairman, the mosque imam who was there at the time, have stated the actual situation,” JK clarified. “Ade Armando just speaks as he pleases. He even says it was ordered. Who said it was ordered? Ordered to die, well, he’s getting crazier with his talk,” he added. He hopes that the testimonies from the figures involved in the peace negotiations can enlighten the public regarding the blasphemy accusations in the context of the content of JK’s sermon at UGM Mosque. “They, the religious figures, are expected to socialise this, of course through you all in the media, so that the public understands and doesn’t want to be divided by those who defame,” he said. On the same occasion, Reverend John explained that what JK conveyed in his sermon at UGM Mosque concerned the conflicts in Maluku and Poso. Reverend John stated that JK’s sermon did not concern anything else, including allegations of religious blasphemy. John assessed that if religious doctrines were truly implemented as they should be, he believes the conflicts in Maluku would not have occurred. He explained that during the conflicts at that time, the doctrines received were indeed not in accordance with the actual teachings. “I want to emphasise that what was conveyed by Mr JK does not at all intend to blaspheme Christianity in this case. I think that’s my testimony, my testimony, and Mr JK did not at all intend to discuss religious dogma or doctrine,” said Reverend John. “He only recorded and saw the facts that occurred in the midst of society where people killed each other using religious legitimations. I think that’s what I want to convey,” he continued. In line with Reverend John, Reverend Rinaldi also assessed that what JK said at UGM Mosque was not a theological statement teaching doctrine. According to him, if the sermon is listened to in full, it can be understood that what JK conveyed was a sociological analysis of the bitter reality of the conflicts specifically in Poso and Ambon. “And what was conveyed by Mr JK, more or less the sentence about conflicting for the reason of martyrdom to enter heaven, that did indeed happen in those conflicts. As Father Reverend said earlier, that really happened in that reality,” said Reverend Rinaldi. “No need to go far. I myself was brave to go anywhere because I was sure at that time I would definitely enter heaven. That’s it. And many people at that time asked to be prayed for. And we wore robes and prayed for them because they believed that killing people and being killed would enter heaven. That’s what happened at that time,” he revealed. Ustaz Sugiyanto conveyed that the conflict that occurred, especially in Poso, is now resolved. He said that what JK conveyed in his sermon was purely the field conditions at that time. “Actually, the Poso riot matter is clear, there’s nothing left to discuss. Because what was conveyed by Mr JK is field fact. There they shouted ‘Blood of Jesus’, on the other side they shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’,” said Ustaz Sugiyanto. “Everything because of ambition, everything because of grudge, anger that was then polished with religion. So what was conveyed is fact, there’s nothing wrong, but at that time,” he added. Previously, the Central Executive Board of the Indonesian Christian Youth Movement (GAMKI) along with several organisations reported JK to the police. GAMKI General Chairman Sahat Sinurat stated that JK’s statement was deemed to offend Christian teachings and caused a stir in the sermon at UGM Mosque which discussed the Poso and Ambon conflicts. He emphasised that Christian teachings never justify killing as a path to heaven. In addition, on 14 April, a similar report emerged from North Sumatra. Several organisations under the North Sumatra Civil Society Alliance also reported JK to the North Sumatra Police Headquarters with accusations of blaspheming religious teachings. The Poso conflict in Central Sulawesi occurred around 1998-2001. That communal riot is often seen as a religious-tinged conflict. However, the root problems are said to be related to economic disparities, local political competition, and the impact of the transmigration programme that changed the demographics of the area. In 2001, JK, who was then Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare in President Megawati Soekarnoputri’s cabinet, led the mediation process in Malino, Sulawesi.