President Jokowi: We are all Committed to Defend Pancasila and NKRI

President Jokowi meets with interfaith leaders at the Presidential Palace on Tuesday (16/5). (Photo: PR/Jay).

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo accompanied by the Indonesian National Defence Forces (TNI) Commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo and the Indonesian National Police (Polri) Chief Gen. Tito Karnavian met with interfaith leaders at the Presidential Palace on Tuesday (16/5) afternoon.

The interfaith leaders in attendace among others were Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) KH. Ma’ruf Amin, the Nahdlatul Ulama’s Central Board (PBNU) Secretary General Hilmi Faishal Zaini, Chairman of the Indonesian Buddhists Association (Walubi) Hartati Murdaya, Chairman of the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) Dr. Henriette T.H. Lebang, Chairman of the Indonesian Catholics Bishops Conference (KWI) Ignatius Suharo, Chairman of the Confucian Supreme Council of Indonesia (Matakin) Uung Sendana, and Chairman of the Assembly of Law and Human Rights of the youth wing of Muhammadiyah (PP Muhamaddiyah).

In a joint press conference with the interfaith leaders, President Jokowi said the meeting was held to discuss the dynamics of nationality that become our shared concerns. “I am pleased to hear the commitment of all religious leaders and their people to continue to maintain, defend, and strengthen Pancasila State Ideology and the 1945 Constitution, within the framework of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika or Unity in Diversity,” said President Jokowi.

The President is grateful to hear the commitment of all religious people to continue to maintain unity, fraternity, peace and tolerance among people, inter-groups and between groups. “I am also pleased and grateful for the commitment of all parties to build a sound democracy and support law enforcement,” the President continued.

President Jokowi asserted that freedom of opinion, association, and assembly is guaranteed by our Constitution. However, the freedom must be in accordance with the legal corridor, Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution, and must be within the framework of the NKRI and Unity in Diversity.

Even in the last few days there is a divide between groups in our society, the President asked that from now, the divide be stopped immediately. “Do not blaspheme each other because we are all brothers and sisters,” the President said.

The Head of State also asks that among the elements of the nation do not blame each other because we are all brothers and sisters. “Do not protest each other, we have spent too much energy for the things that are not productive,” the President said, adding that we remain brothers and sisters, no matter what. (FID/JAY/ES) (MUR/YM/Naster).