Religious support needed for harmony

Religious support needed for harmony

JAKARTA (JP): The government has pledged to take firm action
against people working to destroy religious harmony by burning
houses of worship and holy books.

The government also appealed for the support of religious
communities in maintaining religious harmony.

The minister of religious affairs, Tarmizi Taher, said "only
with a stern government stance, supported by religious
communities, can social order, national unity and integrity be
upheld".

He was speaking after opening the renovated Pura Aditya Jaya
Hindu temple yesterday.

Last month, Tarmizi drew the ire of many Moslem leaders when
he said it was religiously permissible for people to kill
rioters.

"There have been countless religious conflicts in the world,
and most of the victims were innocent, devout people," Tarmizi
was quoted by Antara as saying.

Indonesia has been rocked by several sectarian and racial
riots since late last year when dozens of houses of worship were
torched.

The worst riots were in West Kalimantan, the East Java town of
Situbondo and West Java town of Tasikmalaya.

The tension continued this year when election-related violence
shook the East Java towns of Pasuruan and Jember, Bangkalan on
the island of Madura.

Tarmizi vowed to never let "religious extremism and
radicalism" grow in the country.

"In Indonesia, if the (Moslem holiday of) Idul Fitri eve
coincides with the Hindu day of silence, the government will
arrange both events to proceed orderly and safely," he said.

Tarmizi said this reflected the religious harmony that had
long been embedded in Indonesia.

He said religious communities needed to filter for themselves
the affects of foreign cultures, to protect their youths'
morality.

"Inter-religious harmony is vital for the nation if it is to
face the challenges of the future. It's a foundation that should
be maintained," Tarmizi said.

The harmonious relationship between Moslems and those of other
religions in Indonesia was an example of excellent religious
coexistence.

He dismissed recent riots with religious dimensions as local,
saying the nation was still strong. (aan)