RI to hold national interfaith meeting

Antara ,  Jakarta   |  Sat, 05/17/2008 1:40 PM  |  National

In commemorating the 100th anniversary of National Awakening Day, Indonesia’s five major religious councils will organize a major meeting to draft recommendations on efforts to strengthen national unity.

"This is for the first time that leaders of five major religions jointly initiate, facilitate and finance a meeting. We realize that such a togetherness is needed because the are quite a number of problems facing Indonesia," said chairman of the organizing committee of the Major Meeting of Indonesian Religion Followers To Guard the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia Slamet Effendi Yusuf.

Slamet said the two-day meeting, scheduled to convene from May 20 to 22, was also aimed at reaffirming the role of religions in unifying the nation.

Participants of the meeting were expected to issue recommendation on efforts to strengthen the national unity and promote the world peace, he said.

"In addition to recommendations, we will also draft a plan of joint actions among Indonesian religions' councils, including conducting mediations in conflicts involving followers of different religions in society," Yusuf of the Indonesian Ulema (Scholars) Council (MUI) said.

Meanwhile, Executive Secretary of the Indonesian Churches' Association (PGI) Gomar Gultom said that the meeting was also expected to produce positive impacts on the social and political condition of the nation.

Among the speakers of the meeting will be Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Aburizal Bakrie, Religious Affairs Minister Maftuh Basyuni, KH. Hasyim Muzadi (Nahdlatul Ulama), Din Syamsuddin (Muhammadiyah), Prof.DR. Thamrin Amal Tamagola, KH Ma'ruf Amin (MUI), and Mgr. M.D.Situmorang, OFM.,Cap (Indonesia Churches Conference/KWI). (*)

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