Multi-faith service sparks controversy, not harmony
Multi-faith service sparks controversy, not harmony
By Putu Wirata
DENPASAR, Bali (JP): Last week's military-sponsored prayer gathering of various religious followers has created more controversy than harmony.
Local Hindu and Moslem leaders say that mass prayer is not allowed by their religions.
The Hindus claim they were not aware that other religious followers had been invited by the military to pray, believing they were there simply to watch the procession.
Moslem ulemas were also outraged upon hearing of the Saturday night religious get-together at Pura Besakih, one of the main Hindu temples in Bali, which was also attended by Buddhists and Christians.
Held to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Wirasatya military resort in Karanasem, the event coincided with the beginning of Eka Bhuana, a Hindu ritual held once every 100 years that will peak this year on March 20.
Governor Ida Bagus Oka, who is a Hindu, and Wirasatya military command chief Col. Agus Wirahadikusumah, who is a Moslem, were among the officials taking part in the ritual that brought together about 2,500 people.
Local officials said the mass prayer was meant to strengthen the peaceful co-existence among believers of different religions on the pre-dominantly Hindu tourist island.
"I am happy to see people from different religions come together to praise God," Governor Oka said when addressing the crowd. "Those who object to the idea must be narrow-minded."
The local newspaper, Bali Pos, in its editorial praised the pray-together as "progress" in the efforts to improve religious harmony.
More than 90 percent of those taking part in the prayer were Hindus, the committee of the ceremony reported. Col. Agus reportedly provided Rp 5 million (US$2,200) and 350 shirts to Hindu priests.
Ketut Wiana, deputy secretary-general of the Hindu Dharma Council, is among those who were not pleased with the event.
"As far as I know, non-Hindus were invited to see Hindus perform their ritual. Our religion does not allow people from other faiths to take part in our ritual," he said.
Ketut said he was also invited by the military to attend but failed to show up because he was sick.
The chairman of the Bali chapter of the Moslem Ulemas Council, Adnan, refused to comment when The Jakarta Post contacted him at his resident. "I have to go," he said.
But Wasil Abu Ali, one of Adnan's deputies, said that even the state ideology Pancasila does not recommend that people from different religions should pray together.
"It was not progress as the newspaper (Bali Pos) calls it. It was a mistake that must be corrected," said Wasil, a senior official of the Bali chapter of the Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI).
The columnist, who regularly writes on Islamic teachings in the Bali Pos, charged that Bali administration officials have mistakenly tried to blend religions.
In his opinion, religious harmony can be achieved without people from different religions having to say prayers together in one spot.
"A Moslem is not allowed to invite a Hindu to pray at a mosque, but he may invite him to a halal bil halal (post-Idul Fitri gathering where people forgive each other)," he said.
No Christian leader was available for comment.