Indonesia Never Stand Idle to Problems Faced by Other Muslims, President Jokowi Says
As a country with the world’s largest Muslim population, Indonesia never stand idle to problems faced by other Muslim in the world and in Muslim countries.
The statement was made by President Joko Jokowi Widodo before 100,000 participants of the National Amicable Gathering for the 3rd Quran Tafsir (Exegesis) Assembly adopting a theme Bridge the Diversity, Strengthen the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia at the Manahan Stadium, Solo, on Sunday (17/9).
Because we uphold the constitutional mandate that Indonesia partakes in implementing world order based upon independence, eternal peace, and social justice. In fact, Palestine has not reached its independence; Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Libya are still haunted by wars and conflicts; and Afghanistan has not fully recovered (from the war), President Jokowi added.
Indonesia is obliged to contribute to provide world solutions for world peace and for the benefit of Muslims in the world. The President mentioned that in 2016, the Government of Indonesia inaugurated Indonesian honorary consulate in Ramallah, Palestine. Not to mention that in the same year, Indonesia also held the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Extraordinary Summit in Jakarta on Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Sharif, at the request of President of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas. People often forget it, the President stated.
These are the examples of measures taken for fellow Muslim populated countries. President Jokowi added that Indonesia also help Afghanistan by establishing Islamic Center to provide education for Afghan children.
Last year, we also built Indonesian Mosque in Kabul. In the near future, we will invite Afghan Ulama (Muslim scholars) to Indonesia to share knowledge for promoting Islam which is Rahmatan lil-‘alamin (Blessing for all creation). Rula Ghani, the First Lady of Afghanistan, wife of the President of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani, is also scheduled to visit Indonesia in December to discuss several women and child-related programs, President Jokowi asserted.
Regarding conflict in Rakhine State, Myanmar, the President added that the Government of Indonesia affirmed that the violence and humanitarian crisis in Rakhine State must be stopped. Therefore, President Jokowi has intructed Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi who went to Myanmar twice to meet Aung San Suu Kyi and Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces and urged them to immediately stop any kind of violence.
On January and February 2017, the Government has also sent 10 containers of humanitarian aids consisting of medicines and foods to refugees in Rakhine State, Myanmar. And last week, we has sent 4 (four) Hercules to transport foods, medicines, blankets, and other humanitarian aids to our brothers and sisters who stayed at refugee shelters at the border of Bangladesh and Myanmar, the President said adding that another humanitarian aids will be sent to the border areas this week.
We will keep doing these actions to our brothers and sisters who are affected by humanitarian crisis and conflict, wherever they are, President Jokowi firmly said.
Also accompanying President Jokowi in that event were Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, and Solo Mayor FX. Hadi Rudyatmo.(AGG/JAY/EN) (RAS/YM/Naster)