Tarmizi hails choir contest as proof of religious tolerance

Tarmizi hails choir contest as proof of religious tolerance

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher said
that the recent church choir contest in predominantly Moslem
Surabaya, East Java, was proof of the growing tolerance among
religious groups.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the contest, known as
Pesparawi, in Surabaya on Friday, Tarmizi told the Christian
community that the smooth running of the contest should be
considered cause for gratitude.

"The Christian community should be thankful. This contest
wouldn't have succeeded without a high level of tolerance from
the East Javanese Moslems," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

"A few years ago, it was pretty much impossible for any
Christian gathering to be held in this city," he admitted. "I was
born here and lived here for thirteen years, and never imagined
that Surabaya could ever host a church choir contest."

Moslems make up 96.68 percent of East Java's population of
about 34 million. Protestants constitute 1.59 percent, Catholics
0.99 percent, Hindus 0.48 percent and Buddhists 0.29 percent.

The minister pointed out that like the Koran recital
contests, known as Musabaqah Tilawatil Qur'an, choir contests and
other religious festivals are directed only at the religious
groups in question. "They are not meant as a show of aggression
toward any other religious group," he said.

He called on all religions to learn about and understand other
faiths. "We are entering the 21st century with all its
challenges. We cannot imagine how our children will fare without
religion as the source of our values," he said.

Tarmizi warned against the danger of religious radicalism
which he said was spreading worldwide. "Here, the people and the
government, along with the Armed Forces, will never tolerate
religious extremism or radicalism," he said.

The organizer of the church choir contest, Suharko, announced
on the ceremony that a delegation from North Sulawesi won the
contest. West Java got "best conductor".

The next contest will be held in 2000 in Kupang, West Timor,
East Nusa Tenggara. (swe)