Bishops and MPs: Freedom of religion and thought, national treasures in Indonesia
Jakarta (AsiaNews) - To preserve the "national treasures" in Indonesia, including the Pancasila, the Constitution and the value of "unity in diversity", which are an asset to the country. This is the joint commitment made by bishops and a delegation of Indonesian parliamentarians at a meeting at the headquarters of the Episcopal Conference in Central Jakarta.
Since the Declaration of Independence of 17 August 1945, Indonesia has established the birth of a secular state based on five basic principles (the Pancasila), which "ensure full respect for cultural diversity” and human rights. They are the five pillars of secular nationalism and emphasize the importance of universal values such as freedom of expression and religion.
In Indonesia, the practice of five recognized official religions is permitted Islam, Taoism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christianity. However, the growth of a fringe fundamentalist pressing for the introduction of Islamic law - Shariah - risks undermining the value of the underlying secular state. Since 2002, for example, in some parts of Aceh province Shariah has replaced the state legal system. In order to prevent extremist tendencies and reinforce the concept of "unity in diversity ', a group of Indonesian parliamentarians visited the headquarters of the Indonesian Bishops' Conference (KWI) and in the coming days, will meet leaders of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the most important moderate Muslim organization in the country.
The delegation of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR RI) was led by Taufik Kiemas, husband of former president Megawati Sukarnoputri and President of the Assembly. The bishops and MPs have stressed the importance of protecting "national treasures" and maintaining the Pancasila as the basic fundamental political values. Bishop Johannes Pujasumarta Pr, KWI secretary general, relies on the parliamentary role "to ensure the preservation of important values" to guarantee "pluralism at the base of Indonesian society." They added the prelate, cant rely on the "support of bishops” and “commitment of civil society.
Along with the Pancasila, the Indonesian Catholic leaders and parliamentarians stressed the value of the 1945 Constitution, the principle of the indivisibility of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) and the values embodied in the Latin motto "E pluribus unum," which claims the unity in diversity of souls that make up the nation.
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