Religious leaders to help settle sectarian clashes

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A group of prominent religious leaders agreed on Thursday to work together in settling sectarian conflicts in several areas of the country, saying that a security approach might not solve the root of the problems.

Speaking to reporters after holding a meeting at Muhammadiyah headquarters in Central Jakarta, the religious leaders also agreed that peace among various religious believers in the country would only take place if people no longer put their own interests above all else.

"Today's meeting is to follow up on our earlier meeting at the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) headquarters, which concluded that we, as religious leaders, must model proper morality for people.

"But it must be underlined that we are not in the capacity to take over the government's or the security authorities' role, to restore peace in the regions," chairman of the Muhammadiyah Syafii Ma'arif said.

Also present at the meeting were Hasyim Muzadi, chairman of the largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Julius Cardinal Darmaatmadja, chairman of the Bishop Council of Indonesia (KWI), nationalist figure Roeslan Abdul Gani and also Muslim cleric Nurcholish Madjid.

Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla was also present at the meeting in an effort to communicate the real situation in several regions hit by sectarian conflict such as Poso in Central Sulawesi and Maluku.

The meeting also decided that all elements of the country's religious groups had to be proactive in promoting peace among people by conducting direct visits to the two warring groups, especially in Poso and Maluku.

"We realize that local religious figures may have failed to calm their followers as these prolonged conflicts have also affected their point of view. That is why direct visits from us are a must," Hasyim said.

He, nevertheless, said he still had no idea as to when the visit to Poso and Maluku would be held, reminding all that "the government would fully support them by providing accommodation and transport as well as security."

The two regions have for years been hit by sectarian conflicts which have claimed more than 8,000 lives.

Kalla, along with Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, has taken the initiative to sponsor two peace accords known as the Malino I agreement for Poso and the Malino II agreement for Maluku.

The agreements were signed at a resort in Malino, South Sulawesi, between the representatives of Muslims and Christians both from Poso and Maluku.

During Thursday's meeting, the participants also discussed the possibility of finding a "Malino type" solution for Aceh.