T

he attack on the Catholic prayer group in Yogyakarta (The Jakarta Post, May 31) has been publicly condemned. In this case lies the religious violence that people try to conquer before it ravages the next victims.

Inevitably, hospitalized victims struggle to look for justice, and Jusuf Kalla'€™s short visit to their wards in Panti Rapih Hospital indicates a sign of hope. First, regardless of the political motive, the vice presidential candidate asserts that justice must be upheld. Second, the police are asked to assume responsibility to solve this assault case legally.

The solution to this problem is pressing because religious violence is against the law. If it'€™s left unsolved, not surprisingly, similar attacks will occur in other places and at different times in the future.

Why should the same thing happen over and over again? What can be done to prevent a recurrence?

Whatever the answers to these questions, one thing is quite evident. Yogyakarta, as the city of culture, education and tolerance, cannot guarantee the security, comfort and freedom of worship for its residents of religious minorities.

Ironically enough, the power of tolerance among religious adherents is only a utopian ideal that never promotes the foundation of democracy fully.

It doesn'€™t even penetrate into the real life of nation. It'€™s just a piece of paper for a charter award, so that people around the world claim that Indonesia is a country of tolerance.

Of course, tolerance on a daily basis brings a new paradigm to treat other religious adherents humanely. It has long been a life principle of an independent democratic nation, which represents the right of worship for all religions.

Through the practice of tolerance, citizens from different social and religious backgrounds obtain the assurance to perform an act of worship safely and comfortably. Likewise, they mutually respect and understand one another.

Tolerance in diversity is also the key to treating people of different faiths with dignity. In turn, it provides fertile ground for either peace or harmony that makes life more colorful without any discrimination, or violence against ethnicities, races and religions.

Anselmus Sudirman
Yogyakarta