Hindu and Muslim youths joined hundreds of Christians in East Nusa Tenggara province yesterday in launching a nationwide Easter torch tour. The year-long peace torch tour initiated by the Protestant Evangelical Church in Timor (GMIT) began in the provincial capital, Kupang and will end on Easter Sunday next year in Jakarta. East Nusa Tenggara governor, Fransiskus Lebu Raya, said the ‘Easter Victory Tour’ will spread the message that religious harmony in the province should radiate itself to other regions in the country. “We must maintain the noble value of peace and never allow any immoral act, or individual interest to contaminate it,” the Catholic layman said. GMIT committee chairman Winston Rondo said the peace torch will visit various cities in East Nusa Tenggara, Bali, Papua, Maluku, Sulwesi, Kalimantan, Sumatra and Java before it ends up in Jakarta. He said it is part of the Church’s plans to conduct various interfaith youth activities this year. “The Easter torch tour is telling Indonesians how beautiful it is to live in harmony and to build a nation together,” he said. Related reports Muslims praise Christian efforts