Indonesians should revive the values of Pancasila (Five Principles) state ideology to ensure they continues to embrace religious pluralism and respect other people's right to a political identity, a scholar says.
Noted Islamic scholar Ahmad Syafii Maarif told a seminar on Wednesday that many Indonesians, including politicians, had forgotten the values promoted by Pancasila.
As a result, many no longer espoused religious pluralism, he argued at a lecture titled: "Indonesia's religious pluralism and its future political identity", held at the Paramadina University.
"Many Indonesians are now searching for a political identity," he added.
"But some have committed acts of violence that have hampered pluralism."
Pancasila comprises five interrelated principles consisting of the belief in one God, just and civilized humanity, Indonesia's unity, democracy guided by public consultation and consensus, and social justice for all Indonesians.
Syafii said although Islamic teachings introduced by minority Islamic groups, such as Ahmadiyah and Al Qiyadah Al Islamiyah might stray from the Koran, the government still had to protect the rights of minorities.
"Nobody has the right to damage people's physical assets," he said.
The country's hard-line Islamic groups such as the Indonesian Mujahidin Council (MMI), the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) and the Indonesian Hizbut Tahrir (HTI), very often used violence when seeking to implement Islamic laws in the country.
"They have wrongfully interpreted Islam. The religion supports pluralism and rejects violence," he said.
Anies Baswedan, the rector of Paramadina University, said political identity would not be a problem if everybody respected people's values regardless of their nationalities, religions and ethnic groups.
Meanwhile, Didik J. Rachbini, chairman of the Paramadina Foundation, said intellectuals needed to get involved in social organizations and educational institutions to provide an environment conducive to pluralism.
Syafii said Indonesia was still building its own form of democracy.
"Many politicians have not embraced the real values of democracy," he said.
"They speak in the name of democracy, but act in an authoritarian way," he said, adding that the country had experienced various kinds of political upheavals since its independence.
Syafii added that regional administrations had not done a good job of accommodating religious pluralism and giving people the freedom to have a political identity.
"They have issued bylaws that are not in line with the people's needs."
He lambasted the recent bylaw passed in Aceh, arguing it had created fear and uncertainty among people in the region.
Article 24 of the newly passed bylaw states that unmarried citizens that commit adultery will be whipped 100 times, while married people will be stoned to death.
The bylaw has drawn criticism from many NGOs, which are planning to file a request for a judicial review with the Supreme Court next month if negotiations with the Aceh Legislative Council fail. (nia)
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