PGI: Number of Intolerance Cases Drops

PGI executive board walks in Merdeka Palace after a meeting with President Jokowi in Jakarta, Tuesday (5/3). Photo by: Jay/PR

Indonesia sees drops in intolerance cases, according to the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI).

“We view intolerance a result of a long journey of tolerating intolerant groups in this country. However, we see that the number of intolerance cases has actually been decreasing recently,” General Secretary of PGI Rev. Gomar Gultom said after a meeting with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday (3/5).

Gultom added that there is no significant increase in cases of houses of worship closure and the existing cases are the effects of the unsolved cases. Political interests and the election also play significant role in religious intolerance, he added.

Regarding the upcoming election, Gultom said that the PGI calls on its members to cast their vote.

In the meantime, Chairman of PGI Rev. Hendriette Tabita Hutabarat-Lebang said that PGI invited President Jokowi to attend the Church and Community Convention to be held in Manado, 28-31 March this year.

The convention, he said, is an opportunity to contemplate on problems faced by Indonesian society today in the context of Christian faith and to decide how Christians should respond to the problems, to participate actively in building the nation, and to contribute to the happiness of the humankind.

“Churches in Indonesia are participating in making changes in a rapidly-changing Indonesian community,” Hendriette said, adding that PGI has also invited the President to attend its General Assembly to be held on 8-13 November 2019 in Sumba Island, East Nusa Tenggara.

Translated by: Ridwan Ibadurrohman
Edited by: Ersan Pamungkas