S. Sulawesi students pledge tolerance

Jupriadi, The Jakarta Post, Makassar

Following the recent campaign of terror waged against Christian people in South Sulawesi, six student associations have issued a joint communique in an attempt to stop all forms of violence and promote tolerance among numerous religious communities in the province.

The joint communique, signed by the Association of Islamic Students (HMI), Muhammadiyah Student Association (IMM), Indonesian Christian Student Movement (GMKI), Indonesian Catholic Student Movement (PMKRI), Indonesian Muslim Student Movement (PMII) and Indonesian Buddhist Student Association, condemns the recent intimidation of Christians, respects universal humanity, accepts differences of ideology, promotes religious tolerance and supports democratic principles.

Edwin Turendy, chairman of the local branch of PMKRI, said the students also agreed to hold dialogs to follow up on the joint communique.

"To make the joint communique effective, we will hold regular dialogs to break it down into joint efforts to create a peaceful situation, especially on the eve of Idul Fitri, Christmas and New Year in the province," he said.

Natsar Desy, chairman of the local HMI branch, hailed the joint communique, saying it would be effective in phasing out unwanted prejudice among student associations.

"With the joint communique, we hope all suspicions among student associations will be eliminated and we can make joint efforts to promote harmony among numerous religious communities," he said.

He said the student associations also agreed to set up a joint team to promote the joint communique to all universities and students in the province.

"Students must be able to play their role as agents of unity among the people, and they must be in the front row promoting peace and justice in society," he said.

The joint communique was created following the recent torture of five Christian students by Muslim students as revenge for the burning of the effigy of Osama bin Laden in the predominantly Christian town of Tondano, North Sulawesi, last month.

As in other provinces, anti-U.S. sentiment has been mounting in South Sulawesi in opposition to the United States-led assault on Afghanistan. The United States has accused bin Laden and his Al Qaeda network of being behind the devastating terrorist attack on New York and Washington on Sept. 11, which claimed over 5,500 lives.