ASIA/INDONESIA - Student movements, of all religions, committed to peace and coexistence

Amboina (Agenzia Fides) - Young Indonesians will not let themselves be intimidated or provoked by those who want to create new inter-religious clashes in the country: is what 16 leaders of student and youth organizations, of different religions and backgrounds, say in an appeal sent to Agenzia Fides.
By detecting a series of acts of intimidation against places of worship and religious communities throughout Indonesia, youth movement leaders ask everyone to stay calm, not to give in to provocation, to work in a shared way for harmony and social coexistence.
Among the recent episodes of violence mentioned in the appeal, we recall: intimidation to K.H. Umar Basri, Islamic scholar of Nahdlatul Ulama, headmaster of the Al-Hidayah Islamic Boarding School of Cicalengka, in Bandung, on January 27; the attempted murder of H.R. Prawoto, ulama and president of Islam Union, 1 February; violence against Buddhist monk Mulyanto Nurhalim and his followers in the village of Caringin, in Tangerang, on 7 February; the attack on the church of Santa Ludwina in the village of Trihanggo, Sleman, in Yogyakarta and the wounding of the Jesuit Karl Edmud Prier, on 11 February; the destruction of the mosque in Tuban in East Java; attack against the Hindu temple in Bima, West Nusa Tenggara, on February 12th.
These incidents, say student leaders, undermine security and stability at regional and national levels and could trigger new conflicts. "The intolerant and radical groups must be addressed so that micro-conflicts can be resolved peacefully", says the text, calling the various institutions for "a synergistic coordination for a systematic preventive action". Students invite public officials, religious leaders, community leaders, politicians and leaders of social organizations "to act responsibly and not to make provocative statements". Young people hope "that everyone will play an active role in educating the population to national harmony based on the Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution".
The organizations that have signed the appeal, representing young Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and other religions are: Union of Catholic University Students of the Republic of Indonesia; Youth Muslim Indonesia; Muslim Students' Association; Hindu Dharma Students Union of Indonesia; Muhammadiyah Students Association; Islamic Unity Student Association; Union of Indonesian Moslem University's Students; Indonesian Muslim Students Movement; National Front of Indonesian Muslim Students; Union of Indonesian Buddhist Students; Indonesian National Student Movement; Al Washliyah Students' Association; Indonesian Islamic Youth Movement; Indonesian Christian Students Movement; Indonesian Chinese Youth Association. (PP) (Agenzia Fides, 20/2/2018)

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