Megawati urges efforts to develop religious pluralism

Asip A. Hasani, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta

President Megawati Soekarnoputri has called on the nation to maintain religious pluralism and tolerance, rather than exploiting religious differences to stoke sectarian violence.

Addressing more than 300 religious leaders, experts and observers participating in an international conference on religion and peace here on Monday, the President urged that efforts be made to develop religious pluralism, so that it would improve the life of the nation and bring prosperity to the people.

"In the numerous crises and conflicts now taking place, religious differences that have risen to the surface have frequently been used as reasons by the conflicting sides, and even as justification for their actions. This situation challenges us to review the format, character and dynamics of our society," she said.

Attending the seminar were 120 religious leaders and experts from 24 Asian countries, 58 honorary delegates and 145 international observers.

The President was referring to sectarian conflicts in the Central Sulawesi town of Poso and in Maluku, and the bombings that have occurred at places of worship across the nation.

The government and security authorities have been under fire for their inability to enforce the law, which has prolonged the conflicts in Maluku and Poso. Also, the government has never announced the results of its investigation into the bomb blasts that took place at a number of churches during Christmas, 2001.

Megawati told the participants that for religious pluralism to survive and thrive, a common attitude and tolerance had to be established.

"In my perception, religious tolerance is promoted in the teachings of most religions," the President said.

She said Islam orders its adherents to love, understand and cooperate with one another, as well as teaching equality, common interests, unanimity, hard work, honesty, wisdom and responsibility.

"I believe other religions have similar concepts as well," she said.

The President said pluralism would never negate religious identity or freedom of religion, because each religion has its own freedom and way of implementing its teachings.

Megawati said she hoped dialog and reconciliation would be emphasized in resolving the current sectarian conflicts in the country.

"The world is waiting for concrete action to create a more democratic, peaceful and prosperous life, based on social justice and humanity," she said.

Religious leaders and intellectuals must play a role in creating peace and prosperity, the President said.

Commenting of the President's statement, noted Christian scholar Th. Sumartana said that relying merely on religion to resolve social conflicts was utopian thinking.

"Social conflicts such as those in Maluku and Poso require simultaneous efforts in the legal, economic, political and religious fields," he told The Jakarta Post.

"The goodwill of the leaders of the conflicting communities will be useless if it is always negated by the interests of politicians and others within the government. Firm measures by the government are badly needed here as the security forces have to be handled correctly, especially the Indonesian Military (TNI).

Meanwhile, chairman of the country's second largest Muslim organization Muhammadiyah, Ahmad Syafi'i Maarif, said the leaders' words did not reflect the reality.

"That's our fundamental weakness as a nation. Leaders are not really aware of what they tell the public. They are not aware that the reality -- like what's really happening in conflict-torn areas -- needs concrete decisions," Syafi'i told the Post.

Corruption and worsening security conditions in conflict areas which had not yet recovered were, in fact, caused by the absence of firm action on the part of both the central and local governments, he said.

"The President's suggestion that religious leaders should play an important and crucial role in conflict resolution is good. We, along with the Nahdlatul Ulama (the largest Muslim organization) have worked to build close ties with other religions," he said.

The conference will last until June 28. Similar conferences were held earlier in Singapore, India, South Korea, Nepal and Thailand.