A poster that reads “Don’t Live in Indonesia if You’re Anti-Pluralism” is displayed at a seminar on pluralism involving public and religious figures as well as academics in Jakarta, Monday (4/8/2014). During the public seminar at the National Library, speakers expressed their support for the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) and rejected ISIS teaching, while also calling on the government to act firmly against any organization with the potential to destroy the NKRI.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Pluralism is a reality in the life of every nation and cannot be denied. In order to maintain pluralism, it has to be managed properly so that tolerance grows and develops in the life of the nation and the state. In managing pluralism, intergroup and individual dialogues need to be put forward.
This emerged in a public seminar with the theme "Challenges of Pluralism and Religious Tolerance" in the National Library of the Republic of Indonesia, Jakarta, on Wednesday (16/6).
The seminar was guided by Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta lecturer Yeni Ratna Yuningsih as moderator, while speakers included Rotterdam mayor of the Netherlands, Ahmed Aboutaleb; director of the Wahid Foundation, Yenny Wahid; Board of Trustees chief of the Nurcholish Madjid Society, Yudi Latif; Driyarkara Philosophy School professor Franz Magnis-Suseno; and Jakarta Theology School lecturer and reverend of the Simalungun Christian Protestant Church (GKPS), Martin Lukito Sinaga.
According to Yenny from the Wahid Foundation, no country in the world can claim to have a single culture because all countries consist of various cultures and ethnicities. Each country must have its own formula and solution to be able to manage diversity or pluralism.
"The steps we can take are to promote dialogue and spread love. We have to voice humanitarian messages and continue to put forward the values of tolerance and tenderness," she said.
The level of tolerance in Indonesia is actually very high, she added. The Indonesian nation has had a tradition of practicing tolerance for hundreds of years. Pancasila and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity) have become the nation\'s heritage.
Lately, however, a number of groups have been spreading false news to disrupt harmony, she said.
"We must fight and struggle for our rights because it is guaranteed by the Constitution. We must make sure Indonesia is a tolerant country based on Pancasila and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika," she said.
Rotterdam Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb, the first Muslim to become a leader of a big city in the Netherlands, said tolerance meant accepting the differences of others.
The only solution to maintain togetherness and diversity is that we must look at others as we look at ourselves, he said.
Aboutaleb said he saw himself as a mayor for all ethnicities living in Rotterdam, which is home to 174 ethnic groups.
“I always think there is no single religion and dominant culture in Rotterdam,” he said.
Equal treatment
According to Aboutaleb, the government has to treat people equally in terms of their rights and obligations — all of which are guaranteed by the constitution.
In the Dutch constitution, a number of articles guarantee freedom of expression, association and politics, as well as the most fundamental, religious freedom. To maintain diversity and foster tolerance, people must continue to engage in dialogue and seek input from experts, he said.
Driyarkara Philosophy School professor Magnis-Suseno said the Indonesian people in general are tolerant people. However, for certain groups, it is still not easy to accept people of different teachings and belief.
"It took the United States 160 years to accept the first Catholic president, John F Kennedy. So, it takes time to be able to accept someone from a different identity," said Magnis-Suseno.
In the next regional elections and general elections, according to Magnis-Suseno, Indonesia should no longer focus on religious identity.
"We must reject any effort that undermines democracy […] We must reject violence in the name of religion," he added.
Yudi from the Nurcholish Madjid Society said that intolerance occurred because people have a poor understanding of tolerance. In fact, Indonesia is actually a plural nation in many aspects.
"Indonesia, which is plural, cannot be united. However, we have the same calling as crystallized by the five principles of Pancasila. Unity in diversity is important," he said.
According to Martin, Christians strongly support democracy in Indonesia, even though it has recently shown signs of weakness.
"We need to deepen pluralism. We must change our perspective that transcends all prejudices in order to better understand pluralism," he said.
