"We (government) and the police should also understand the principles of a good religion and maintain relationships with religious leaders. Religious leaders should make sure the community does not become radical," he said at the Jakarta Institute of Police Science on Friday.
Social conflicts based on religious differences happen easily, he said and pointed to the violence in Ambon in Maluku province in 1999 and in Poso in Central Sulawesi from 1998 to 2001. "Everyone is not being neutral when dealing with religious matters. People side with one side. Then, conflicts (related to religious differences) occur such as in the two areas (Ambon and Poso), which cause casualties," he said.
Such violence occurs because of the lack of understanding of religious teachings. Religious leaders were needed to provide an understanding of peace. "Why are there victims during a religious conflict? Because the leaders of each group say that if you kill your enemy and burn a mosque or church, you will go to heaven. This is the wrong concept of holy war," he pointed out.
In resolving conflicts in Ambon and Poso, he found that there was a misunderstanding of jihad or holy war. Therefore, he hoped that the Indonesian Police in local areas would maintain good relations with religious leaders and understand peaceful teachings.
Reported by Fransiska Ninditya
M052/INE
(T.M052/A/KR-BSR/A014)
Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
