Participants in Malino I-II Declarations Testify that JK's Speech Did Not Blaspheme Religion

Key historical figures from the Malino I peace declaration in Poso and Malino II in Maluku have provided testimony that the lecture by Indonesia’s 10th and 12th Vice President Jusuf Kalla (JK) at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) aligns with the historical narrative.

The figures involved in the Malino peace declarations during negotiations over conflicts in Poso and Maluku held a meeting at the JS Luwansa Hotel in Kuningan, South Jakarta, on Tuesday (21/4) at 10:00 WIB. The meeting lasted for two hours.

The forum was conducted openly and agreed on peace in response to the polemic surrounding the content of JK’s lecture at UGM on Thursday (5/3).

One historical figure from the Malino II delegation in Maluku, John Ruhulessin, stated that the content of JK’s lecture matches the sociological facts that occurred.

John confirmed that JK, as the state’s representative in the peace negotiations, directly approached the community in Ambon, Maluku, and understood the conflict conditions.

According to him, JK’s lecture did not intend to blaspheme Christianity.

“Mr JK never discussed a religious doctrine. If that religious doctrine had been applied at the time, I am sure the conflict in Maluku would not have happened; instead, religion was used as a tool to legitimise the violence and killings that took place,” he said.

Meanwhile, from the Malino I negotiation delegation in Poso, Pastor Rinaldi Damanik asked the public to reflect that JK’s lecture at UGM matches the true historical narrative.

“Therefore, we hope that whoever opposes what Mr JK said, let us learn about that case first. Look at it,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the DPP Hidayatullah Organisation Division, Dudung Amadung Abdullah, stated that the content of the lecture suspected of blaspheming religion contains no criminal offence in the narrative presented.

“In our opinion, after examining what Mr Jusuf Kalla said at UGM, there is not a single offence indicating that he committed blasphemy against religion,” he said.

For this reason, he expressed that the meeting is an opportune moment for representatives of interfaith groups to calm the situation regarding the issue.

“Perhaps once again, this is a moment for us to collectively calm our respective congregations,” he said.