TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
RI religious groups condemn bombings
Various religious groups in Indonesia condemned the bomb attacks targeting churches and luxury hotels, killing at least 290 people and injuring hundreds more in Sri Lanka on Sunday, when the country’s Christians were celebrating Easter
Change Size
V
span>Various religious groups in Indonesia condemned the bomb attacks targeting churches and luxury hotels, killing at least 290 people and injuring hundreds more in Sri Lanka on Sunday, when the country’s Christians were celebrating Easter.
The Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) said no religious teachings justified violence that spread terror or hatred.
“We condemn the perpetrators of this attack, whoever and whichever group they belonged to,” PGI secretary general Rev. Gomar Gultom said as quoted by Antara on Monday.
“Incidents like this have again reminded us to never tolerate any forms of intolerance and violence,” he said, stressing that acts of violence never solved any problems and only led to a new cycle of violence.
Budi Santoso Tanuwibowo of the Confucian Supreme Council of Indonesia (Matakin) also condemned the attacks. ”We support every effort to thoroughly investigate the perpetrators and masterminds behind this tragedy. We also invite everyone to pray and try to create a peaceful and tolerant world based on the values of humanity.”
The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) appealed to the global community to not immediately draw a connection between the bombings and the religions of the perpetrators over concern that it could stir tensions.
“These bombings are undoubtedly contemptible and uncivilized and should be put to an end. […] But we should avoid associating them with the perpetrators’ religions,” MUI secretary general Anwar Abbas said in a statement.
While there was no immediate claim of responsibility, Cabinet minister and government spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said authorities believed National Thowheeth Jama’ath (NTJ) was behind the attacks, AFP reported.
On Monday, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi received the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Indonesia Dharsana Mahendra Perera at her office. “I received updates from the Ambassador of Sri Lanka on the efforts carried out by the Sri Lankan government following the attack. I reassured her that Indonesia was ready to assist and stand by Sri Lanka in this time of sorrow,” Retno said on Twitter.
According to Indonesian Embassy data, there are 374 Indonesian citizens living in Sri Lanka, 140 of which live in Colombo.
The hotels hit in Colombo were the Shangri-La, the Kingsbury, the Cinnamon Grand and the Tropical Inn near the national zoo.
At the time of the explosion, one Indonesian citizen was at the Shangri-La Hotel, but the Indonesian Embassy said the person was unharmed and had been evacuated by Sri Lankan security forces. The embassy has called on Indonesian citizens in Sri Lanka to remain vigilant and cautious, advising them to follow directions from local security authorities.
