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President calls on all citizens to respect basic constitutional rights
Addressing the nation: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (at the rostrum) delivers the state of the nation address in observance of the 68th anniversary of Indonesia's independence at the House of Representatives (DPR) building in Jakarta on Friday
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Addressing the nation: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (at the rostrum) delivers the state of the nation address in observance of the 68th anniversary of Indonesia's independence at the House of Representatives (DPR) building in Jakarta on Friday. (JP/Jerry Adiguna) (at the rostrum) delivers the state of the nation address in observance of the 68th anniversary of Indonesia's independence at the House of Representatives (DPR) building in Jakarta on Friday. (JP/Jerry Adiguna)
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span class="inline inline-center">Addressing the nation: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (at the rostrum) delivers the state of the nation address in observance of the 68th anniversary of Indonesia's independence at the House of Representatives (DPR) building in Jakarta on Friday. (JP/Jerry Adiguna)
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono reiterated on Friday that the Indonesian Constitution guarantees the rights of every citizen to hold their own beliefs during his annual state of the nation speech delivered to commemorate the country's 68th Independence Day.
'All people should respect the constitutional rights. It is unconstitutional if there is someone or some group that imposes its beliefs on others by means of threat, intimidation and even violence,' Yudhoyono said in the speech, which he delivered at the House of Representatives (DPR) building in Jakarta on Friday morning, as quoted by Antara news agency.
He also expressed concern over recent incidents of intolerance and violent communal conflict.
'It can all be prevented if we use dialog as a means for finding solutions,' he added.
He called on all leaders and prominent figures across the country to take responsibility to maintain harmony in society.
'We will never get rid of the differences that mark our multicultural nation,' the President said. (hrl)
