Speaking to newsmen after receiving a German parliament delegation at his office here on Thursday, the religious affairs minister said that someone wanted to create disharmony.
According to him, it was because the issue of religion was classified as sensitive and easily ignited sectarian conflict.
"There is a mastermind from a certain party who intentionally wants to create disharmony among religious communities," Suryadharma Ali said.
German parliament deputy chairman Wolfgang Thierse who led the delegation at the meeting with the religious affairs minister also asked about the problem of inter-faith religious harmony in Indonesia.
In response to Wolfgang`s question, Suryadharma admitted that as a pluralist country, Indonesia was not free from conflict but
he analogized this nation as a big family.
"As a family, small quarrel between husband and wife, brother and sister, and even parents and children is something natural and unavoidable," the minister noted.
In like manner, Suryadharma pointed out that sectarian conflict did occur at times in Indonesia but it was really beyond the will of religious leaders and religious communities.
"I`m not sure that both Muslim and Christian communities in Indonesia are mutually hostile," the United Development Party (PPP) general chairman convinced the German parliament delegation.
At the meeting with German parliament delegation, Suryadharma Ali was accompanied among others by Religious Affairs Ministry`s Inspector General M. Suparta, Islamic Education Director General Mohammad Ali, Director General of Catholic Community Antonius, Muslim Community Directorate General`s Secretary Abdul Karim, Christian Community Directorate General`s Secretary Oditha Rintana, and religious affairs minister special staffers Bey Fananie and Budi Setiawan.
(Uu.O001/H-NG/F001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
