Indonesia, one of the world’s biggest countries, has a culture of tolerance and pluralism thanks to its principle of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity), according to Italian peace promoter Valeria Martano from the Sant‘Edigio Community.

“Tolerance is not something that is taken for granted, but they [Indonesian people] have it,” said Martano following a reception held by the Ambassador of Italy to Indonesia, Vittorio Sandalli at the Italian Residence in Jakarta on Sept. 27.

The reception was held in honor of Martano, who was awarded the “Anugerah Kebudayaan & Penghargaan Maestro Seni Tradisi 2018” by the Education and Culture Ministry for her dedication in inter-religious dialog.

Nahdlatul Ulama executive board chairman Marsudi Syuhud, Muhammadiyah secretary general Abdul Mukti, former Muhammadiyah chairman Muhammad Sirajuddin “Din” Syamsuddin and renowned philosophy scholar, pluralism defender and Catholic priest Franz Magnis-Suseno were among the invited guests visible at the reception.

Martano went on to say, “I trust that Indonesian people consider tolerance and pluralism important values and we always stand beside the struggle for achieving tolerance.”

According to her, radicalism has emerged all over the world, not only in Indonesia.

“I think there is radicalism in the young generation all over the world, not only in Islamic countries but also in European countries. This is why you have to strengthen identity that is not against others, identity for peace, for pluralism. That’s why we have to struggle for the culture of achievement of collaborations,” she said.

Martano has frequently visited Indonesia since the early 1990s to encourage young Indonesian people to help the poor and promote a dialogue between different sections of society.

The root of the problem of intolerance, according to Martano, can be cut by creating an environment that allows children from a very young age to grow up together and learn to collaborate, she said.

Asked about what the award means to her, she said, “I think it is an encouragement to continue to work for reconciliation and peace in the country and the world.

“It is even an acknowledgment of what the Sant‘Endigio Community has been doing in Indonesia. We have been working for the poor to help the children of different ethnic groups and religions grow up together, nurturing the value of collaboration in the Muslim majority country, Indonesia.

“To me, the award encourages me to be more and more active to promote the principles of Bhinneka Tuggal Ika, something in the heart of the Community, as I said earlier, the heritage is not only for Indonesia but also for the world and for humanity,” she said.

Ambassador Sandalli said that this year, for the first time, the award is also bestowed upon foreign citizens, with Martano being one of the three foreigners honored.

He said Martano had dedicated 20 years of her life as an inspirator and motivator for inter-faith dialogue.

At the reception, Sandalli recalled the award ceremony opened by the Education and Culture Minister the previous evening by underlining that cultural identity is not only taken from one’s roots but also from the exchanges between people and communities.

Therefore the award granted to Martano is a celebration of the meeting of two cultures and communities, to foster harmony and peace between religions and peoples, he said.

On a final note, Sandalli stated that the award also symbolizes the shared values of tolerance that Indonesia and Italy both uphold, and thanked the government of Indonesia for the recognition given to the key role that Martano has played in the promotion of inter-religious dialog.

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