Religious leaders call for end to differences after election

Jakarta, NU Online
Religious leaders have called for an immediate end to political differences soon after the election is over citing importance of national unity.<>

"We must all remain peaceful and amicable and avoid conflicts that are unnecessary. It will be too dear if the nation plunges into conflicts. Choices may be different, but whoever is elected later will be the president of the Republic of Indonesia," the general chairman of the Indonesia Communion of Churches (PGI), Reverend Andreas Yewangoe, said at a press conference after meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono here on Monday.

He said who people will elect is not an issue, but after the elections all factions must be united.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the presidium of the Indonesia Bishops Conference (KWI), Monsignor Iganisius Suharyo, who also attended the meeting, appealed to Catholics in the country to vote according to their conscience.

"Once the election is over and the candidate has been elected, they must all maintain peace. The Catholics will be loyal to whoever is elected," he said as quoted by Antara news agency.

Suharyo said the essence of the KWI message to Catholics in the country with regard to the election was vote smartly according to their conscience and social teachings of the church, respect humanity and public interests, and uphold solidarity.

"I am convinced that the election will be peaceful, as people are already smart and aware that even a small conflict will only hurt people," he said.

President Yudhoyono earlier in the morning had also received the executive board of the Indonesian Council of Ulemas.

"We are concerned about the differences that have emerged during the recent presidential election campaigns, which have caused divisions within the country, among religious followers, retired army personnel, art workers, and people at the grassroots level, which, unless immediately mended, may lead to potential conflicts," MUI General Chairman Din Syamsuddin stated after meeting President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono here on Monday.

In this connection, he called on all national components to jointly narrow the gap and restore national cooperation.

"MUI wishes to become a buffer. We invite middle forces and the government to assure smooth execution of the election process. The president also hoped that the impact of the event, which is only to elect the nations leader for the next five-year period, will not be protracted for years to come," Din noted.

"In line with MUIs national directives, Indonesians must exhibit a spirit of brotherhood and vote with good will and responsibility for their welfare and prevent restlessness," Din emphasized.

In the meeting, Din was accompanied by all members of the MUI executive board, while President Yudhoyono was flanked by Chief Political and Security Minister Djoko Suyanto, Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim, Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi, Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi, and Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam.

The General Elections Commission (KPU) has declared the campaigning period for the presidential election from June 7 to July 5, before Indonesians go to the polls on July 9, 2014.

The campaign period ended at midnight, on Saturday, following the final presidential debate.

A total of 190,307,134 eligible voters have been registered by the KPU for the July 9, 2014, presidential election, comprising 188,268,423 voters in Indonesia and 2,038,711 overseas.

Of the total, 95,220,799 are male and 95,086,335 are female.

The Indonesian presidential election will be contested by two pairs: Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa and Joko Widodo (Jokowi)-Jusuf Kalla.

Prabowo Subianto is a retired military general and the founder of the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), while his running mate, Hatta Rajasa, is a former coordinating minister for economic affairs and the chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN).

Jokowi is Jakartas governor and a cadre of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), while his running mate, Jusuf Kalla, is a former vice president and a senior politician of the Golkar Party.

Editing by Sudarto Murtaufiq