REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Joko Widodo met with 25 interfaith leaders at the Presidential Palace here on Thursday.

Chief of the Presidential Communications Team Teten Masduki told reporters at the Presidential Palace on Thursday that at the meeting, they did not specifically discuss the Tolikara incident but discussed matters related to the Unitary State of Indonesia in general.

"What is important is that in future, we need to maintain plurality as the foundation of the state. Interfaith leaders must continue to uphold it," Masduki remarked.

He added that the Tolikara incident was not the focus of the meeting this afternoon. Instead, they discussed efforts to maintain religious plurality in the country.

"This should not be the first (and the last meeting); it should be held regularly. I believe at least 25 people will be invited," he stated.

Such a meeting should also be held at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, he stressed.

Moreover, Vice President Jusuf Kalla emphasized that the conflict that occurred on Friday, July 17, in Karubaga district, Tolikara, Papua, must be settled through legal steps.

"The dispute will not end if everyone continues to retaliate in other cities," the vice president said here on Thursday in connection with the incident.

In addition, Kalla affirmed that Indonesia has several laws in place, and all citizens must abide by them.

"We are a law-abiding state and must punish whoever violates the law," he pointed out.

According to the vice president, all local regulations that are not in accordance with the laws and legislations implemented in Indonesia should be revoked.

He believes that the incident was related to Tolikara's regulation on procedures for religious activities.

"To gain approval to implement a local regulation, the proposal must be sent through the district chief to the governor and then to the central government through the Ministry of Home Affairs. It will not be imposed if it is not approved by the central government," Kalla noted.

Earlier, Chief of Tolikara district Usman Wanimbo had confirmed the existence of local regulations that ban the construction of places of worship other than the Gospel Church of Indonesia (GIDI), as it was the first place of worship to be built in the region.

Any activities and places of worship that are allowed to exist in the Tolikara region are of GIDI only.

Furthermore, Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo stated on Wednesday that he had not received any reports on local regulations governing worship procedures.

"Only some 70 regulations are still in place, of the 139 that were examined by the Ministry of Home Affairs. No single regulation is related to (ordinances of worship) religion in Tolikara," Kumolo explained.

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