REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Joko Widodo has called for preserving and developing tolerance towards the diversities in the Indonesian community.
"I have often said that our country has diversity, and so far, we have been able to stay united in these diverse conditions, live harmoniously, and tolerate, respect and appreciate others," he said while opening a meeting with interfaith leaders at the State Palace here on Thursday afternoon.
He added that tolerance can be developed with the participation of all parties.
"You, as religious clerics and figures, play a determining role in advising and directing people at the grassroots to keep them calm," he remarked, adding, "You must not add to the tensions."
"As I have said before, for the last 70 years, we have been able to live in harmony. We hope that in the future, we can continue to act wisely to ensure that people do not get provoked easily by small incidents that can be overcome," the president emphasized.
Although they did not specifically discuss the Tolikara incident at the meeting, the head of state called against the recurrence of such an incident.
He stated: "The Tolikara incident would not have taken place had we communicated well and built relations. The incident could have been prevented if they had communicated beforehand. I believe there is no such thing as being too late (to start developing good communication channels), to do away with any causes of friction that can be thwarted to ensure peace."
A group of people believed to be members of the Evangelical Church of Indonesia (GIDI) went to Baitul Mustaqin Mosque in Tolikara when Muslims were performing an Eid prayer on Friday. They protested the use of a loudspeaker during the prayer, stating that it was disturbing an event their church was holding at the same time.
According to the chairman of the Communion of Evangelical Churches and Institutions in Indonesia, Roni Mandang, there was chaos after police officers fired shots at them, which led to the torching of kiosks. Flames from these fires spread to the Islamic house of prayer, once it was known that a person had been shot dead.
Moreover, Spokesman for the Public Information Division of the National Police Senior Commissioner Suharsono said that the police had opened fire to bring the rioting people to order and to keep them away from the mosque.
It was later confirmed that one person was killed and 11 others were wounded in the incident.
Moreover, President Joko Widodo admitted that law enforcement agencies must probe the incident thoroughly within the legal corridor.
"Law enforcers must settle the case firmly, upholding the principle that no one is above the law," he pointed out.
At the meeting, President Joko Widodo was flanked by Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, Minister/State Secretary Pratikno and Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto, among other officials.
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