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.