Indonesia

Indonesia urged to live up to its principles

Upsurge in Java violence sets alarm bells ringing among Catholic academics

A police officer tries to stop angry people attacking sect members

Published: February 10, 2011 07:43 AM GMT

Updated: February 10, 2011 07:56 AM GMT

Alarmed by an upsurge in religious violence, the Indonesian Association of Catholic Intellectuals (ISKA) has urged the government to firmly uphold the national ideology of Pancasila (five principles). It also called on society to adhere to the national motto; Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (unity in diversity). “The government must firmly uphold Pancasila and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, which serve as the foundation of national life. Letting violence occur will harm our identity as a nation which is dignified and believes in God,” the intellectuals said in a statement yesterday. Pancasila, enshrined in the preamble to the 1945 Constitution, stresses belief in one God, a just and civilized society, a united Indonesia, democracy guided by consensus, and social justice for all. The association said it was shocked at the level of violence in Java in recent days. On February 6, three Ahmadiyah sect members were beaten and stoned to death and at least five others injured during an attack by over 1,000 orthodox Muslims on worshippers at a house in Umbulan village in Banten. Two days later, in Temanggung, angry mobs ransacked three churches after a court jailed a Christian for five for insulting Islam in books and articles he published in October. The mobs were angry at the sentence, believing the Christian should have got the death penalty. “These acts demonstrate that the constitution’s guarantees of freedom of religion and faith are lacking,” they added. They called on Indonesians to disregard all teachings and values which are against national fundamental values of tolerance, harmony and dignity. “Let us de-radicalize those that are against our plural nation and continually strengthen the value of solidarity,” they said. Related report Indonesian Ahmadiyah killings condemned IJ13227.1640

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