REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Thousands of religious congregation representatives in Indonesia gathered at Nusantara Hall of Parliamentary Building in Jakarta on Sunday to celebrate World Interfaith Harmony Week 2012 with the theme Diversity Creates Harmony in Indonesia. The religious congregation figures that led the delegations in the event were Chairman of Muhammadiyah as one of largest Muslim organizations, Din Syamsuddin; Representative of Catholic, Andreas Sewangu; Representative of Hindu, I Nyoman Udayana; Representative of Buddhism, Philip Wijaya; Representative of Confucian, Wawan Wiratma; and representative of Christians.
"On this occasion, we pledge that there is no religion in Indonesia rejects diversity. Do not always look for the difference, but take our similarities to live in harmony and peace in Indonesia," said Syamsuddin.
The religious figures and the representatives of religions in Indonesia express their commitment to keep harmony in the society, nation and state under the Pancasila ideology. Syamsuddin also said that the decision to choose the Parliamentary Building as a place of the World Interfaith Harmony Week 2012 was aimed to bring closer relationship between the interfaith society and people`s representatives.
The Representative of Hindu Religion, I Nyoman Udayana said every human was equal before God. "Only good deeds or bad deeds distinguish us. Therefore, people should live in harmony in their diversity," he said. "The interfaith congregation should respect each other to promote harmony," he further said.
According to Udayana, the state was responsible to keep interfaith harmony in Indonesia, "The state guarantees the religiouse freedom, but practically, there is still unfairness between the majority and minority," he said.
Chairman of the People`s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Taufik Kiemas responded positively to that statement. He said MPR would support every program that promotes interfaith harmony in Indonesia. "MPR will support events that renew pledges of commitments of interfaith harmony in Indonesia," said Kiemas.
World Interfaith Harmony Week is an annual event to be observed in the first week of February starting in 2011. The anniversary is aim to create mutual understanding and inter-religious dialogue that constitute important dimensions of a culture of peace and establishes World Interfaith Harmony Week as a way to promote harmony between all people, regardless of their faith.
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