President: Everyone free to practice his/her religion

Jakarta, NU Online
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said here on Thursday that everyone in Indonesia was free to practice his/her religion or faith.

He said no group was allowed to force its will on others "especially through resort to violence."&<>lt;br />
He made the statement when speaking at the commemoration of the Descent of the Koran at the State Palace.

He appealed to all Indonesians to protect minority groups so as to develop a national life based on inter-religious and social harmony.

"Let us protect minority groups in terms of their religion or other social identities. Let us develop a national and political life which is based on strong inter-religious harmony," he said.

The President asked for the cooperation of all people for the creation of a peaceful and tranquil religious life that put forward solidarity rather than differences.

Therefore, he also called on all citizens not to always find faults with others.
"If we always see the bad side in others when will we be able to see their good side which we ourselves might not have," he said.

In line with the theme of the commemoration which was "The Koran and the Development of Sciences" the President asked Muslims in the country to keep pursuing knowledge and develop technology to improve the nation`s life.

The Koran, he said, orders Muslims to keep pursuing knowledge. This was also in line with Article 31 of the 1945 Constitution which states that "the government shall advance the sciences and technology by upholding religious values and national unity for the advancement of civilization and the welfare of mankind."

"With this perspective, we are developing education which is inseparable from theological aspects. Education is harmonizing intellectual and spiritual intelligence," he said.

The event was also attended First Lady Ani Yudhoyono and high-ranking state officials including cabinet ministers and House Speaker Marzuki Alie and also some foreign country representatives. (dar)