President Yudhoyono said a developed and democratic country with a mastery of science and technology should be able to maintain a balance between freedom, responsibility and obligations.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has reminded all levels of the society against forgetting their self identity and the nation`s cultural heritage by making noise, riots, and violence.

The president made the statement at the so-called Ani Yudhoyono Halal Bihalal friendship gathering with the United Indonesia Cabinet Wives Solidarity at the State Palace on Tuesday.

Indonesia, according to President Yudhoyono, is moving towards a nation that has freedom with a flourishing democracy.

But he added that the freedom should not necessarily mean that the people are free to make noise, intolerant acts, violence, and conflicts among various group of people in the community.

"If it happened, we would forget our identity of unity and hospitality, and be rooted out form the cultural heritages and values of our predecessors," the president said.

President Yudhoyono said a developed and democratic country with a mastery of science and technology should be able to maintain a balance between freedom, responsibility and obligations.

Related with the last condition in the city of Ambon, Security Minister Djoko Suyanto said the security situation has slowly returned to normal.

Djoko reiterated that the people in Ambon should not easily be provoked by misleading information that would lead to wider conflict in the city.

"With the appeal from religious leaders and community and youth leaders for the local people not be easily provoked, we hope the security situation in Ambon will permanently conducive," Djoko said.

Religious leaders of Maluku have called on the local community, especially in Ambon city, not be easily provoked by misleading issues which could lead to communal conflicts.

The written call, signed by Muslim, Christian, Catholic, Buddhist leaders and the chairman of Religious Harmony Forum of Maluku, was read out here on Tuesday by Maluku Provincial Office of the Ministry of Religion head Mohammad Atamimi.

According to the call, the people in Ambon, capital of Maluku province, should not be provoked too easily by baseless information from irresponsible people, but try to refrain from the adverse effects of provocation.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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