MUI warns followers against provocations

Jakarta, NU Online
The Indonesian Council of Ulema (MUI) called on all religious followers in the country on Tuesday not to be easily incited by provocations that would disrupt inter-religious harmony and national unity.

In his year-end statement the head of the council`s commission on inter-religious harmony, Slamet Effendy Yusuf, said inter-religious conflicts so far were caused by instigations from irresponsible persons.<>

"There are certain quarters who make instigations here and there," Slamet was quoted as saying by Antara news agency.

The former chairman of the Ansor Youth Movement said that some of the religious followers still had a limited understaading of their religioun and this made them unable to accept differences.

Some Moslems still act based on exclusive religious understanding and cannot accept religious differences which are part of God`s determination.

"We must all know that if God wishes he could make all men in the world Moslems but he did not do it. That is because God wants people to live in religious diversity and later learn to embrace one he/she believes," he said.

The gap in social welfare and poverty, he said, was also a reason that religious followers easily get involved in conflicts.

He said one way to prevent conflict among different religions is by strengthening religious understanding and faith and "building culture of tolerance and accepting differences to build brotherhood among people."

He said MUI would help build the culture by intensifying meetings and dialogues with religious leaders, academics and younger generations.

He said the government had to be pro-active in its efforts to develop inter-relgious harmony.

He said the rules for maintaining inter-religious harmony had to be improved to assure legal certainty.

"We urged all stake holders in the country to realize development that prioritize equal distribution and justice," he said. (dar)