President calls for importance of practicing tolerance

Boyolali, NU Online
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has emphasized the importance of practicing tolerance, which is an important element of a diverse country like Indonesia.
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"Our country is diverse in terms of traditions, cultures and religions," he said during his visit to Boyolali district in Central Java on Saturday (18/7).

The president's statement came following the disruption of an Eid prayer service in Tolikara, Papua, on Friday.

He added that Indonesia will advance if people practice tolerance. "We have diverse cultures, traditions and religions. My message is that we must unite and be tolerant towards others. This way, we will be able to develop our regions," he remarked.

President Jokowi regretted the incident that took place on Friday and apologized for it.

"The president regretted the incident and conveyed his apology to the residents affected by it," a special member of the president's staff, Lenis Kogoya, stated during a press conference at the State Secretariat here on Saturday.

Kogoya pointed out that he had reported the incident to President Jokowi through his private secretary and to the cabinet secretary on Friday night.

The government will soon rebuild the damaged houses and the market that were destroyed during the episode on Friday, he stressed.

Earlier, Vice President Jusuf Kalla had also expressed his regret over the conflict.

According to a report he had received, the conflict was a result of a misunderstanding among inter-religious groups in the district.

Moreover, after attending an open house at the Vice Presidential Palace on Friday, Chief of the National Police General Badrodin Haiti explained the conditions following the incident.

He affirmed that the situation was under control and that there was no need to deploy more officers to maintain security conditions there.

Furthermore, the Communion of Indonesian Churches (PGI) also expressed their disappointment over the disruption of Eid prayers in Tolikara.

General Chairman of PGI Henriette Hutabarat-Lebang said here on Saturday that the incident had spoiled the solemnity of the Eid celebration.

"In view of that, PGI strongly condemns the disruption of the Eid prayers and the act of setting a house of prayer, the mosque, afire. The incident is a grave cause for concern, as it does not reflect the spirit of brotherhood that was jointly built in the country," Hutabarat-Lebang remarked.

She noted that violence of any kind and for any reason was not justifiable because it hurts the image of the Indonesian nation that upholds the concept of unity in diversity.

"Indonesia is a unitary state, and to maintain unity, no group is allowed to claim one region as its exclusive zone. Every citizen has the right to live and is free to exercise his religious duties," she emphasized.

In addition, according to information collected by the Communion of Evangelical Churches and Institutions in Indonesia (PGLII), a number of Muslims were attacked by a group of people from the Evangelical Church in Indonesia (GIDI) while they were performing Eid prayers on Friday morning.

General Chairman of PGLII Ronny Mandang explained that the attack took place after a shot was allegedly fired by a local security officer.

"It should be known that the gunshot was heard before the riot occurred," he pointed out.

As a result, Mandang added, 11 GIDI members were wounded and one was killed.

In light of this incident, Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo has appealed to all community members, especially those in Tolikara and its surrounding areas, to not be provoked to retaliate following the incident. (masdar)