Indonesian President Joko Widodo speaks to reporters after opening the 30th Congress of the Union of Catholic University Students of the Republic of Indonesia in Palembang, South Sumatra province, on Jan. 22. (Photo supplied)
President Joko Widodo has kicked off the 30th Congress of the Union of Catholic University Students of the Republic of Indonesia in Palembang, the first time a president has opened the gathering.
The biennial congress in South Sumatra province, with the theme promoting the state philosophy of Pancasila to build a sovereign Indonesia, began on Jan. 22 and ends on Jan. 28.
Addressing about 2,000 delegates from all the organization's 72 chapters, Widodo stressed the importance of the country's secular identity and called on them to maintain national unity while at the same time preserve national diversity in a country that contains 714 tribal groups.
"Diversity should be maintained. If there is conflict among tribes, it should be resolved immediately," he said.
Referring to regional elections to be held in June this year, he told the Catholic students to help make sure the polls are peaceful and fair.
"Never reproach each other. We often forget that we are brothers and sisters of this nation," he said.