REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) believes religion and religious figures have an important role in creating peace and harmony in a country and in the world.

This was stated by Jokowi at the opening ceremony of the R20 International Summit of Religious Authorities in Jakarta on Monday (27/11/2023).

“Indonesia believes that the role of religion, the role of religious figures and society is very important in creating peace, in creating harmony, and togetherness both within a country, within the region and in the world,” Jokowi said.

Therefore, Jokowi greatly appreciates and appreciates the organization of the R20 International Summit of Religious Authorities forum. He called for inter-religious and transnational dialogue in this forum to bridge differences and stop conflicts in the world.

“So that a peaceful world, a harmonious world, a prosperous world we can realize together,” he said.

Jokowi believes that the wars that are taking place in the modern era today are unspeakable. Massacres against people were even carried out blatantly.

“Because it really doesn't enter our minds, it really doesn't enter our consciences in this super-modern world where there are still wars, and blatant massacres that take away civilians, that take women and children,” Jokowi said.

Jokowi also insisted that the Palestinian humanitarian tragedy could not be tolerated in the slightest. Therefore, he reiterated the need for an immediate ceasefire and speed up the distribution of humanitarian aid. “And keep in mind peace must begin immediately,” he said.

Indonesia, Jokowi said, believes that independence is the right of all nations. This is also stated in the Constitution of Indonesia.

Jokowi said that Indonesia has long experience in knitting diversity, bridging differences, and unifying diversity. Indonesia, he continued, has a population of nearly 280 million consisting of 714 tribes, more than 1,300 regional languages, as well as diverse religions.

“It is not an easy thing to unite them, but we can and we are grateful that Indonesia is able to erode the tribal ego, is able to erode the religious ego, is able to reduce the regional ego, so that it is able to realize a single bhinneka ika, unity in diversity,” he explained.

According to Jokowi, unity and harmony in Indonesia will not be realized if it is not supported by religious leaders who teach love of the motherland and tolerance.

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