"From now on all frictions between community groups must be immediately stopped," the president said.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesian president Joko Widodo (Jokowi) called on all parties here on Tuesday to stop all frictions that have caused tension in the national life.
He made the statement in a press conference after meeting with eight interfaith figures along with the commander of the defense forces General Gatot Nurmantyo and Indonesia Police chief General Tito Karnavian.
"From now on all frictions between community groups must be immediately stopped," he said.
He said he did not want to hear any more people insulting, slandering, rejecting or demonstrating each other.
"Do not slander each other because we are brothers. Do not insult each other because we are brothers. Do not reject each other because we are brothers and do not conduct demonstrations against each other. Our energy will only be used up for unproductive things. We are all brothers of the same nation and country," he said.
President Jokowi said he had ordered the chiefs of the defense forces and the police to not hesitate to take an action against any speech or action that disrupts unity and brotherhood as well as any activity that disrupts the integrity of the unitary state of Indonesia and runs against state ideology Pancasila and the constitution.
The religious figures attending the meeting with the President came from the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI), the Indonesia Bishops Conference (KWI), the Indonesia Communion of Churches (PGI), the Indonesia Budhist Council, the Indonesia Hindu Council (PHDI) and the Indonesia Khonghuchu (Confusianism) Supreme Council.
President Jokowi said the meeting was held to discuss current national dynamic that has drawn common concern.
"I am glad to hear the commitment of all religious leaders and their followers to continue to preserve, maintain and strengthen Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution in the framework of the Unitary State of Indonesia and the principle of unity in diversity," he said.
He said he was also glad to hear the commitment of all religious followers to continue to keep the national unity and brotherhood, peace and tolerance between different religious followers and groups.
"I am glad to hear the commitment of all people to support democracy and rule of law," he said.
He said that indeed freedom, freedom to associate and gather is guaranteed by the constitution but he reminded that it must be implemented within legal corridor.
"It must be done according to Pancasila, the 1945 Constitution and within the framework of the Unitary State of Indonesia and Principle of Unity in Diversity," he aded.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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