Pancasila is a way to maintain harmony among diverse communitiesJakarta (ANTARA) - Pancasila is the Indonesian people's way to maintain inter-religious harmony, Law and Human Rights (Menkumham) Minister Yasonna Hamonangan Laoly stated at the International Religious Freedom Summit Forum in Washington D.C., the United States.
"Pancasila is a way to maintain harmony among diverse communities," Minister Laoly noted in a written statement on Thursday.
The minister remarked that the founding fathers had agreed to choose Pancasila as the official basis and philosophy of the Indonesian state.
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During the forum, he explained that Indonesia is home to around 280 million people, thereby making it the fourth most populous country in the world after China, India, and the United States.
Apart from having the fourth-largest population in the world, Indonesia also has more than 300 ethnic groups, 700 languages and cultures, as well as diverse religions.
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He explained that religious freedom is a right that cannot be reduced and cannot be violated as a fundamental human right, as stated in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
"Ensuring full equality in religious freedom for all Indonesian citizens is a basic principle protected by law," he remarked.
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Translator: Katriana
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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