Keep religion out of it

Keep religion out of it

That emotions are high and tempers short among many of our
people became apparent when a simple casus belli flared up into
an ethnic conflict with a religious twist. It then escalated into
fatal rioting. This is often the case when religious groups get
involved for unclear reasons.

Another ugly side of life here today is that ever since the
devastating monetary crisis hit this nation last year, more and
more people seem to have become overly sensitive. The mood is
more true in Jakarta, where thousands of people from the
provinces have swarmed to escape the dire poverty in rural areas
and try to make ends meet here.

The trend has made urban poverty even worse and public safety
shakier. Various forms of unrest have erupted for one reason or
another, be they politically, racially or religiously motivated.

What happened in the Ketapang area, West Jakarta, on Sunday in
which at least 13 people were killed is the latest example. The
first lesson from the tragedy is that it occurred at an amusement
center. Similar places, which usually operate under the
protection of security officers, have been involved in disputes
with protesters over morality issues.

Obviously the city administration should review its policy of
letting such establishments operate near places of worship.

The peculiarity of this latest riot is that it did not only
involve religious antipathy but also ethnic animosity, which has
been rare of late. Religion only came into it after a group
wielding flags bearing Islamic symbols managed to incite
bystanders.

In the ensuring madness a church was attacked by the flag-
wielding group, which was angry that someone had thrown stones at
its mosque. This group should have found the real culprits and
helped protect other places of worship from a similar assault.

The involvement of religious groups, notably Moslems, seems to
have regretfully become commonplace. The groups often claim to
shoulder outstanding social and religious responsibilities and
believe they have to act whenever Islam is affected. What many of
them seem to forget is that we are a nation of over 200 million
people and no one can claim to have the right to speak on behalf
of all. Second, they also seem to forget that in any
manifestation they should never be on the wrong side of the law.
This should be clear to them after the repeated reminders by
religious leaders that Islam means peace and its teachings do not
condone harming even pets or damaging trees, not even in cases of
war.

We are sorry to note that many groups have gone beyond caring
about being involved in a conflict with fellow Moslems. These
radical groups tarnish Islam's good image, not only locally but
also internationally, and their actions are counterproductive to
the law-abiding Moslem community in general. They show a
frightening side to the religion, which in its pure form promotes
peace and tolerance.

The trend is clearly inseparable from the political game
played by the authorities today. President B. J. Habibie, who is
hungry for popular support, seems particularly desirous to play
the Moslem card. Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto was clearly
behind the "voluntary" Moslem militia deployed during the recent
Special Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), the
very militia who eventually clashed with fellow Moslems and local
people.

Sunday's tragedy also mocks the recent statement calling for
interreligious peace made by leaders of all religious groups
here, after their meeting at the residence of Abdurrahman Wahid,
chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama Moslem organization.

Abdurrahman said after the meeting that reconciliation was
needed not only between the government and opposing groups and
students, but also between intra-religious groups and peoples of
different creeds.

What religious leaders urgently need to do is reduce the over-
sensitivity and narrow-mindedness among their congregations so
that people of all religions can build a common platform to forge
a mature relationship.