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ormervice president Jusuf Kalla warned that forced conversion imposed on members ofthe Shia community in Sampang, East Java during the reconciliation process wasunconstitutional.

Kalla,who also chairs the Indonesian Mosque Council (DMI) also called for a review onthe ongoing mediation process as the reconciliation process reportedly involvedforced conversion of the Shiites.

"Thatis not reconciliation. Reconciliation will equally guarantee the rights ofconflicting groups. And it is definitely free from imposition of the will [ofthe majority group]," Kalla told reporters on the sideline of an IdulFitri open house event at his residence in South Jakarta on Friday.

Heemphasized that whoever imposes conversion on the Shiites is violating therights to freely exercise religious belief.

"The[central and regional] government must take all measures to safely return them[the Shiites] to their village without converting them," said Kalla.

SampangShiite Spokesperson Hertasning Ichlas previously testified that the Sampanglocal administration had forced the Shiites to sign an agreement of ninepoints, which included their willingness to return to "the true teachingof Islam" as well as to condemning of the teachings of Shiite cleric TajulMuluk, who is currently imprisoned over blasphemy.

Accordingto Hertasning, several members of the Sampang Shia community had been asked tosign the agreement before Sampang Regent Fanan Hasib, who was nominated by theUnited Development Party (PPP), and Head of Sampang's Municipal Political andNational Unity Office (Kesbangpol) Rudi Setiadi.(dic)