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'Indonesia is a religious country': TNI commander
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On alert – Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo (right) and Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Syaifuddin (left) accompany President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo at a mass prayer held by Islamic organizations at the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta on Dec. 2. (Antara/Puspa Perwitasari)
Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo has said that Indonesia is a religious country.
“Indonesia is not a theocratic [country], nor a secular one, but it is a religious country. The evidence is right now. We are celebrating Christmas together,” Gatot said during a Christmas celebration at the House of Representative complex in Senayan, South Jakarta, on Friday night as reported by kompas.com.
Without mentioning any particular individual or group, Gatot said there were many people were now claiming that they were the founders of the country.
(Read also: TNI chief denies spat with Jokowi)
He called on all people, including Christians, to uphold unity and spread love, saying that he was sure that all Christians would support unity since the Christian law was love.
“I’m sure Christians will prioritize love. Since the law is the law of love. See Mark 12, 28-34. But correct me, Pak Reverend. I’m not Ahok,” Gatot said referring to Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, a Christian and a Chinese-Indonesian, who has been named a suspect for alleged blasphemy for a statement related to a verse in the Quran.
