President Jokowi Calls on Religious Leaders to Remind People About Peace, Harmony

By Office of Assistant to Deputy Cabinet Secretary for State Documents & Translation     Date 10 Februari 2018
Category: News
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President Jokowi and the participants of Religious Leaders Conference for National Harmony on Saturday (10/2), at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java

President Jokowi and the participants of Religious Leaders Conference for National Harmony on Saturday (10/2), at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java

The Government apparatus and religious leaders should work together to foster Indonesia that is solid on the basis of tolerance and mutual understanding, as well as work together in a synergy to maintain the quality of education and attitude of our people.

The statement was made by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in a remarks during Religious Leaders Conference for  National Harmony on Saturday (10/2), at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java.

“Work together to develop an open education, enhance mutual understanding between religions, between ethnicities, and between social status,” President Jokowi said.

The President asserted that the Government apparatus and religious leaders should always remind people about the joy of peace, brotherhood, harmony, and unity that we must be grateful for.

“Do not forget about the blessing from God. Do not forget about the joy of peace and harmony. Since we always live in harmony, we often forgot to be grateful,” President Jokowi added.

Therefore, the President called on religious leaders to remind their communities and all people about the plight of our brothers and sisters who live in some countries in conflicts and civil wars whose their daily lives are haunted by violence, whose civilizations have retrogressed for decades or even hundreds of year.

On that occasion, President Jokowi told the audience about his experiences during state visits to India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan last month. In Bangladesh, the President visited Cox’s Bazar, Rohingya Refugee Camp.

The President added that the circumstance there is very alarming and Indonesia is the first country to have its president visit the Camp. President Jokowi also said that this is Indonesia’s commitment for humanity and world peace.

President Jokowi also mentioned that he visited Afghanistan one day after the visit of Bangladesh. Several days before his visit, bomb attacks hit Kabul and claimed 20 lives, the second bombing that killed 103 people hit Bangladesh two days before the President’s arrival, and two hours prior to that, militants have attacked an Afghanistan’s military academy in Kabul, killing at least 11 troops and wounding 16.

President Jokowi also said that President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani was impressed by the diversity in Indonesia and gave advice to President Jokowi to resolve conflict among ethnicities if there is one.

“If there is conflict among ethnicities, resolve it immediately particularly those related to religion. Resolve it immediately in a firm manner. Once the conflict grew more extensive, it is difficult to be resolved ,” President Jokowi said as quoting the statement from President Ashraf Ghani.

Starting his remarks, President Jokowi asserted that he is always proud when heads of states, heads of governments, including the Kings, Presidents, and Prime Minister of friendly countries praised Indonesia and expressed their gratitude to our country.

“Why does Indonesia get praised? Because Indonesia is an example of a plural society, a diverse society, that is full of tolerance and togetherness,” the President added.

According to President Jokowi, he always said that Indonesia has religious leaders who teach tolerance and unity, as well as promote dialog, deliberation in a patient manner as responding the head of states/governments’ statements.

For that reason, President Jokowi conveyed his deepest gratitude to all religious leaders, and participants of this event for their commitments to strengthening the national unity, the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, Pancasila (five principles of Indonesia’s state ideology), national motto Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (unity in diversity) which is mentioned in the points of agreement of the seven foundations discussed in the Conference.

Also accompanying President Jokowi in that event were Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto, Minister of Religious Affairs Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko, Presidential Coordinator of Special Staff Teten Masduki, and Presidential Special Envoy for Interfaith Dialog and Civilization Affairs Din Syamsudin .(DID/OJI/ES) (RAS/MUR/MMB/Naster)

 

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