Religious violence concerns Soeharto

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto is worried about the use of violence in resolving conflicts, especially religious ones.

"The use of violence in resolving conflicts in the community, religious conflicts in particular, is a real cause for concern for all of us," he said in an address at the opening of the eight-day leadership meeting of the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) here on Saturday.

"This is why religious leaders need to remind their congregations constantly that religious teachings must never be forced upon any other parties," he told the gathering of 250 clerical leaders from around the country. Also present at the ceremony were PGI chairman Soelarso Sopater and Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher.

"People of faiths need to realize that faith is an awareness of the soul that could only be emerge... by the grace of God," Soeharto was quoted by Antara as saying.

He commended the recent establishment of the communication forum for religious leaders, and expressed hopes that the forum could help solve various problems.

"If the communication forum functions well, I believe that many problems could be resolved well... religious groups would not...use violence," he said. "Honest dialogs among religious leaders are needed."

Peaceful coexistence can not materialize if everyone "shuns honest dialogs, much less if they are filled with suspicion of one another," he told religious leaders.

Followers of all religions should realize that "diversity is here to stay."

"We should all accept this diversity sincerely and with an open heart. We need to continue our efforts to maintain and solidify our national unity," he said.

Soeharto's remarks came on the heels of religious tension that engulfed several small cities in East Jakarta. Early last month, a mob of thousands of people attacked 24 churches, Christian orphanages and other public facilities. The mob was rabid after unidentified people shouted that a defendant in a blasphemy case against Islam was hiding inside a church.

The National Commission on Human Rights studied the incident and found evidence of human rights violations, and maintains that certain parties instigated the riot. Following the tragedy, religious leaders agreed to work together to improve communication by creating a discussion forum.

The violence in East Java, however, was only one of many flare-ups of religious tension in Indonesia over the past year. Earlier this year, Christian communities in East Timor and Irian Jaya attacked Moslem newcomers to the two provinces.

Regarding the attack on the East Java churches, PGI chair Soelarso said: "The Christians, concerned as we are, still believe that the government will deal with the problem in accordance with the law and the truth, and will strive to maintain national unity."

In another part of his speech, President Soeharto said that although the state has the responsibility to protect and serve religious communities, it cannot interfere in their teachings.

"Nobody, not even the state, has the authority to interfere with religious teachings and beliefs which live and develop in the community," Soeharto said. (swe)