S. Sulawesi students pledge tolerance

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.