On French President’s Statement: Gov’t Calls for Orderly, Non-Destructive Actions to Express Opinions

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD delivers his statement at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Saturday (31/10).

Actions to express opinions on French President Emmanuel Macron’s statement should be executed in an orderly and non-destructive manner, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD said.

“The Government calls for orderly and non-destructive actions on every effort to express opinions related to the French President’s statement through the available media,” Mahfud said after accompanying President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on a meeting with a number of religious leaders, at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Saturday (31/10).

The Coordinating Minister emphasized that there is no place for vandalism or anarchism during the efforts to express the opinions and that there is no single institution or person in Indonesia that should be held responsible for the statement.

“We welcome you to deliver your aspirations, express opinions, convey criticism, but do it in an orderly manner and do not violate the law. Once again, there is nothing, be it an institution, a company, a person, that should be held responsible or that supports President Macron’s statement,” Mahfud added.

Previously, President Jokowi denounced President Macron’s statement which insults Islam as well as hurts the feelings of Muslims around the world. “The statement can create division among religious followers at a time when the world needs unity to face the COVID-19 pandemic,” he stated.

President Jokowi also strongly condemned the attacks in Paris and Nice, France.

For the record, the President and Vice President Ma’ruf Amin have met various representatives of religious organizations such as the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), the two biggest Islamic organizations Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah, the Indonesian Church Association (PGI), the Indonesian Church Trustees Conference (KWI), the Indonesian Hindu Religious Council (PHDI), the Indonesian Buddhist Association (Permabudhi), and the Confucian Supreme Council of Indonesia (Matakin). (UN)

Translated by: Fairuzzamani Inayatillah
Reviewed by: Muhardi