Megawati call for religious tolerance

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Megawati Soekarnoputri has called for tolerance, peace and justice among people of different religions and ethnic origins, saying that living in peace is a right for all human beings.

Speaking during a ceremony commemorating the revelation of the Koran on Sunday, Megawati reminded the country that it was built based on the understanding of difference and the aim to achieve prosperity through unity among its people.

"It is appropriate for a country to provide peace and prosperity for its people, despite differences of religion, belief, race and ethnic origin," Megawati remarked at the event held at Istiqlal Grand Mosque.

"Religions teach us to avoid claiming ourselves as the single holders of the truth... We should realize that truth and justice have universal meanings that should be established through a common understanding," the President said.

"Truth should not be interpreted only to fulfill the interests of certain groups or nations... such interpretation would never create justice and peace," she remarked.

Megawati's comments came amid a rise in religious conflicts in several provinces of the country, in particular Poso, Central Sulawesi.

Without referring to certain groups, the President was alluding to radical segments of society here who have adopted religion to employ their own brand of justice and impose their own distinct values on society.

During the celebration, the President also inaugurated tax deductible zakat, a religious tax that Muslims have to pay, saying that such an initiative would support efforts to eradicate poverty in the country.

Present at the ceremony with Megawati were some of the country's high-ranking officials, including House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung and several Cabinet ministers.

Most of the officials were impressed by a speech made by Abdullah Gymnastiar from Daarut Tauhid Islamic Boarding School in Bandung, West Java, who underlined the importance of living in peace and simplicity.

The preacher said that the country's leaders should set an example of living a simple life and place their desire for wealth and position behind them.

"It is very important for people to change themselves first before they start to change the world, as leaders should set an example for the people they lead," the preacher said.