Chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Megawati Soekarnoputri has stressed that Pancasila is the key to combatting growing religious sectarianism in the country and closed ideologies that threaten Indonesia’s pluralism.

Intolerance and the religious and political tensions Indonesia witnessed at the end of 2016 should motivate Indonesians to fight harder to uphold the country’s ideology of democracy and social justice, she said.

“Pancasila serves as a protective shield against the growth of closed ideologies that threaten our nation’s unity,” the former president said in her speech during an event marking the PDI-P’s 44th anniversary in Jakarta on Tuesday.

She referred to “closed ideologies” stemming from certain groups that rejected democracy and promoted uniformity against pluralism and diversity. The statement is a response to simmering sectarian tensions and rising intolerance against minority groups in Indonesia, a country rich in cultural diversity.

However, she did not mention by name the specific groups that harbor these closed ideologies.

Tensions have escalated since two large-scale rallies in November and December last year attracted hundreds of thousands of Muslims demanding the prosecution of Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, a Christian and a Chinese-Indonesian. Certain groups have alleged that Ahok committed blasphemy after he cited a verse from the Quran while speaking to residents of Thousand Islands regency.

Politicians from Islam-based parties such as the National Mandate Party (PAN), the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the United Development Party (PPP) were said to have participated in the protests that some believe were aimed at de-stabilizing the administration of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. The three parties are members of the ruling coalition, led by the PDI-P.

They are also at loggerheads with the PDI-P in the Jakarta gubernatorial election. PAN, the PKB and the PPP are backing Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, a former military man and the son of former president and Democratic Party patron Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, while the PDI-P is supporting Ahok.

Megawati and Yudhoyono are known to have a bitter relationship with one another.

The protests have put a dent in Ahok’s re-election hopes and have also raised concerns about escalating acts of intolerance.

Amid all the challenges faced by Jokowi, a cadre of the PDI-P, Megawati offered assurances that the party would be behind the President all the way.

“Pak President, if [you feel] there are some people who want to disturb you, just let us know. I have a number of subordinates that are ready [to protect the government],” she said.

Jokowi, who was present at the event, also urged people to uphold Pancasila.

“I marked June 1 as Pancasila Day to show that it is Pancasila that unites us together under one house, Indonesia,” he said.

During Tuesday’s celebration, the PDI-P invited all political parties, including non-government parties such as the Gerindra Party and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS). However, Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party was not invited.

“[We only invited] those who have a clear political stance,” PDI-P secretary-general Hasto Kristianto said.

Democratic Party deputy chairman Roy Suryo said Yudhoyono was busy on Tuesday and was not aware of the event in any case.

“I don’t know whether the PDI-P invited us or not but we heard about the event from a WhatsApp group. I personally said happy birthday to the them,” Roy said.

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