Statement of President of the Republic of Indonesia H.E. Joko Widodo After Meeting with Interfaith Leaders on 16 May 2017, at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta

Unofficial English Translation

I just held a silaturahmi (communal togetherness) with religious leaders from the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), from Nahdlatul Ulama, from Muhammadiyah, the Indonesian Bishops Conference (KWI), the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI), the Indonesian Buddhists Association (Walubi), the Indonesian Parisada Hindu Council (PHDI), the Confucian Supreme Council of Indonesia (Matakin), as well as the Indonesian National Defence Forces (TNI) Commander and the Indonesian National Police (Polri) Chief, to discuss the dynamics of nationality which has been our common concern.

And I am pleased to hear the commitment of all religious leaders and the followers to continue to maintain, defend, and strengthen Pancasila (the Five Principles) and the 1945 Constitution, within the framework of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity).

I am happy and grateful to hear the commitment of all religious people to continue to maintain unity, fraternity, peace and tolerance among people, and between groups.

I am also happy and grateful for the commitment of all parties to build a sound democracy and support law enforcement.

I need to emphasize here that freedom of expression, association, and assembly is guaranteed by our Constitution. But I also need to emphasize that the freedom must be in accordance with the legal corridor, Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution, and must be within the framework of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika.

Although recently, there is a divide between groups in our society, I asked that from now the divide be stopped immediately.

Do not blaspheme each other because we are all brothers and sisters. Do not protest each other because we are all brothers and sisters. Do not disgrace each other because we are all brothers and sisters. Do not reject each other because we are all brothers and sisters. Do not stage demonstration against each other because we are all brothers and sisters. We have spent too much energy for the things that are not productive.

We remain brothers and sisters, fellow countrymen.

I have also instructed the Polri Chief, TNI Commander to not hesitate to crack down on all forms of speech and actions that disrupt the unity and brotherhood, the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, which is inconsistent with Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution.

May the Almighty God bless our efforts together. I thank you. (PR, Cabinet Secretariat) (MUR/AW/YM/Naster)