JK Meets Poso and Ambon Figures, Explains Context of His Viral Sermon
Former Vice President of Indonesia’s 10th and 12th administrations, Jusuf Kalla (JK), met with figures involved in the peace negotiations for the Poso and Ambon conflicts. JK stated that the meeting was held to provide an explanation to the public regarding the context of his viral sermon at UGM Mosque.
“So what was conveyed was the situation at that time. So everyone present (the figures who attended) even cried, saying that if I hadn’t resolved it, imagine what would have happened to them. That was the discussion earlier. And everyone agreed that this must be fought against, all those who want to cause trouble,” JK explained to reporters following the meeting at the JS Luwansa Hotel in Kuningan, South Jakarta, on Tuesday (21/4/2026).
JK mentioned that in today’s meeting, all the figures involved in the peace negotiations agreed that the content of JK’s sermon at UGM Mosque had no connection to religious blasphemy. JK stated that all accusations against him of allegedly insulting religion were untrue.
“The point is, they (those accusing) must understand that what was reported is all untrue. The perpetrators themselves (the negotiation figures), the Synod Chairman, the imam who was there at the time, have stated what the actual situation was,” JK explained.
“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 provided by the figures involved in the peace negotiations can enlighten the public regarding the accusations of religious blasphemy in the context of JK’s sermon content at UGM Mosque.
“They earlier, the religious figures, are expected to socialise it, of course through all of you in the media, so that the public understands and doesn’t want to be divided by those who slander,” he concluded.
The meeting conducted by JK with several figures took place this afternoon. The figures present included Pendeta John Ruhulessin from the Protestant Church of Maluku, Pendeta Rinaldi Damanik as a delegate in the Malino I Negotiations, and Ustaz Sugiyanto Kaimuddin as the Muslim delegate in the Malino I Negotiations.
Pendeta John explained that what JK conveyed in his sermon at UGM Mosque concerned the conflicts in Maluku and Poso. Pendeta John stated that JK’s sermon did not concern other matters, including allegations of religious blasphemy.
“He explained the sociological facts that occurred in Maluku when he was trusted by the state to resolve the Maluku conflict. Several times he came to Ambon and went down to meet the community, saw directly and experienced firsthand the conflict processes that occurred. Mr JK never discussed a religious doctrine,” said Pendeta John after the meeting.
John assessed that if religious doctrine had truly been implemented as it should have at that time, he believes the conflict in Maluku would not have happened. He explained that during the conflict at that time, the doctrine received was indeed not in accordance with the actual teachings.
Meanwhile, regarding what was conveyed by JK in the sermon at UGM Mosque, according to him, it did not contain any element of insulting a particular religion at all. For him, JK was only conveying what happened, which he experienced directly when the conflict in Ambon broke out.
“I want to emphasise that what Mr JK conveyed had no intention whatsoever of insulting Christianity in this case. I think that is my testimony, my testimony, and Mr JK had no intention of discussing religious dogma or doctrine,” said Pendeta John.
“He only recorded and saw the facts that occurred in the midst of society that people were killing each other because of the religious legitimations they used. I think that’s what I want to convey,” he clarified.
In line with Pendeta John, Pendeta Rinaldi also assessed that what JK conveyed in his sermon was not a theological statement teaching doctrine. According to him, if the sermon is listened to in full, it is a sociological analysis of the bitter reality of the conflict specifically in Poso and Ambon.
“And what Mr JK conveyed, more or less the sentence about conflicting for the reason of martyrdom entering heaven, that indeed happened in that conflict. As Mr Pendeta said earlier, that really happened in that reality,” said Pendeta Rinaldi.
“No need to go far. I myself dared 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.
Meanwhile, 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 to discuss. Because what Mr JK conveyed is a field fact. There they shouted ‘Blood of Jesus’, on the other side they shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’,” said Ustaz Sugiyanto.
“All because of ambition, all because of grudges, anger that was then polished with religion. So what was conveyed is a fact, nothing wrong, but at that time,” he added.