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Jakarta Post

Agus to prioritize dialogue in handling intolerant groups

Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Wed, January 18, 2017

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Agus to prioritize dialogue in handling intolerant groups Upbeat -- Jakarta gubernatorial candidate Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono appears at a campaign event on Jl. Cipinang Besar Selatan, East Jakarta, on Jan.18.. (JP/Callistasia Anggun Wijaya)

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akarta gubernatorial candidate Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono has said he would prioritize interfaith and intercultural dialogue in handling groups deemed intolerant should he be elected as governor in the upcoming election.

He further said Indonesia was a country based on the rule of law and, hence, no parties were immune to the legal processes. 

While promising tough law enforcement against intolerant groups, Agus said people should also consider why some organizations had become intolerant and violent.

“We should understand that people in this city are diverse, with a lot of different interests. Still, we shouldn’t look at the differences, but try to found our similarities,” Agus said during a campaign visit to Jl. Cipinang Besar Utara, East Jakarta, on Wednesday.

(Read also: FPI leader Rizieq Shihab to testify in Ahok’s hearing)

Agus said should he be elected, he would create various dialogue forums to maintain harmonious relationships among people in the city. 

In the forums, the Jakarta administration would serve as both facilitator and communicator among groups with conflicting interests, he added. 

The eldest son of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono went on to say that under his leadership, the administration would take a humanitarian approach to combating intolerance by engaging public and religious figures.

“We can live harmoniously without being homogeneous," Agus said. (ebf)

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