Religious leaders pledge to support government

Religious leaders pledge to support government

JAKARTA (JP): Christian and Moslem leaders have expressed
concern over the deepening economic crisis and pledged to support
the government's efforts to end it.

The Communion of Churches in Indonesia said it would be "very
irresponsible" for the government to work alone to end the
turmoil.

"It would be very unchristian," said the statement signed by
communion chief Sularso Sopater and secretary J.M. Pattiasina.

Christians constitute only about 10 percent of the
predominantly Moslem Indonesia but they form vibrant communities
across the country.

Moslems make up about 90 percent of the country's 202 million
population, according to official figures.

The communion called on Christians to set aside their
individual or group interests in times of national crisis.

On Monday night, 30 Moslem organizations also expressed
concern over the deepening economic crisis and vowed to back the
government.

Spearheaded by the Indonesian Ulemas Council, the
organizations pledged to unite and work shoulder to shoulder with
the government and the Armed Forces.

In a joint statement signed by council chief Hasan Basri and
secretary Nazri Adani, the Moslem leaders said they would
mobilize support for the government to normalize the economy and
handle problems arising from the crisis.

The Christian and Moslem leaders specifically affirmed their
support for the economic reforms the government is implementing
to regain trust in the administration.

The Moslem leaders urged the government to continue taking
concrete steps to economically empower the masses.

The communion of churches said, "We hope the fundamental
changes in social, economic, political and cultural policies will
result in better public trust (of the government)."

It warned improvements would be hard to come by if the nation
always sought scapegoats in periods of hardship.

"The nation should not hesitate to admit that Indonesia is
currently in big trouble... We don't have to be ashamed to
acknowledge we are moving backward.

"But it's better than if we force ourselves to move forward
but then stumble and fall in exhaustion. Now is time for the
nation to introspect," the statement said. (pan)