Religious leaders urge reconciliation

Religious leaders urge reconciliation

JAKARTA (JP): Religious leaders called on Friday for national
reconciliation among all groups, including the government and the
military, in order to calm the country's overheating political
situation.

The religious leaders made their announcement after meeting at
the residence of Abdurrahman Wahid, chairman of the country's
largest Moslem organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), in Ciganjur,
South Jakarta.

Representing the Moslem community were Abdurrahman, popularly
known as Gus Dur, Said Aqiel Siradj, Rozy Munier, Nurcholish
Madjid, Masdar Mas'udi and several NU clerics, while the
representatives of the Catholic community were Julius Cardinal
Darmaatmadja, chairman of the Conference of Indonesian Bishops
(KWI); Mgr. Martinus Situmorang, Mgr. Anicetus Sinaga, Rev. Franz
Magnis Suseno, Rev. Mudji Sutrisno and Rev. Mardiatmadja.

Rev. Eka Dharma Putera, Rev. Suatami Sutedja, Paul Tahalele,
Martin Sinaga and Arlianus Larosa represented the Indonesian
Churches Community (PGI) while Suhemo Thera and Mulyadi Wahyono
represented the Buddhist community.

Also attending were Ida Pedande Resi of the Hindu community,
Tjhie Tjay Ing of Confucian, Djatikusumah of the non-
denominational movement, Panjabi of the Bahai faith and Henny
Sumali of the Syrian Orthodox Church.

Abdurrahman, who spoke on behalf of the religious leaders,
said they were deeply concerned over the current political
situation and frictions among factions in society.

"National reconciliation is needed to calm the escalating
situation," he said.

He explained that reconciliation was needed not only between
the government and opposing groups and students but also intra-
religious groups and peoples of different religions.

"We gather here to strengthen solidarity and tolerance among
religious communities, especially among their leaders," he said.

He warned against politicizing religions, saying that all
religions were against violence.

"There has been a trend that religions are used by certain
factions to sow hatred in an attempt to maintain power and to
persuade other factions to join them," he said without
elaborating.

He acknowledged the gravity of the situation arising from
friction among religious leaders within one religion or among
different religious communities.

"Many people are able to tolerate religious differences. These
differences only become a serious problem when their leaders
bring them to the surface," he said.

Abdurrahman said the meeting was called jointly by all of the
religious leaders attending.

He agreed that such meetings should be held regularly because
they would be effective in enhancing solidarity and tolerance
among religious communities in the country.

"But I do not want the meetings to be institutionalized," he
said.

Magnis, who is rector of the Driyarkara Institute of
Philosophy, said the call for reconciliation was intended for the
government, the military and opposing groups in society.

"We have observed how the overheating political situation has
been caused by friction between those in power and the opposition
groups, and certain religions have been involved in it," he said.

Responding to a reporter's question, Magnis said Abdurrahman
should be the national figure to initiate the campaign for
national reconciliation. He pointed out that Abdurrahman was a
person accepted by all factions in society.

Situmorang said KWI would give its full support to Abdurrahman
should he be chosen to lead the reconciliation campaign.

At the initiative of students, Abdurrahman has also recently
held a reconciliation meeting with Amien Rais, chairman of the
National Mandate Party; Megawati Soekarnoputri, chairwoman of the
popular faction of the splintered Indonesian Democratic Party;
and Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X of Yogyakarta, to express their
opinion of the latest political developments. (rms)