Twelve Buddhist, Catholic, Confucian, Hindu, Protestant and Muslim leaders attending a meeting in Jakarta yesterday to observe today's annual National Awakening Day, warned of moral bankruptcy that threatens national life.

At a press conference following the meeting, they issued a statement read out by Abdul Mu’ti, secretary of Muhammadiyah and deputy secretary general of Nahdlatul Ulama.

“We have a record in the government’s success in terms of quantity of national economic growth, but about 50 percent of people still live with less than US$2 a day. Worse, the values of national morals have been lessened by corruption which has permeated in all fields of life,” the statement read.

National unity is being torn apart by various conflicts and violence. Violence related to religious intolerance has become stronger and hard-line groups freely propagate exclusive views which justify acts of violence against those they do not like.

“We think the situation must end. If we do not come out of such an abyss, national bankruptcy will threaten national life,” they warned.

According to Capuchin Bishop Martinus Dogma Situmorang of Padang, who heads the Indonesian Bishops’ Conference (KWI), the interfaith leaders’ statement was “a moral judgment” which was based on love of the nation.

Reverend Andreas A. Yewangoe from the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (PGI) added that the statement was a concrete step. “We hope the state officials and legislators listen to what we say,” he said.

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