I`m glad to be here for the carols. I am also happy to be able to exchange ideas with some of the church committees here. We also have Christian churches in Germany, thus the similarities."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - German Chancellor Angela Dorothea Merkel questioned atheism in Indonesia during her visit to the oldest Dutch Protestant church at Immanuel in Jakarta, here on Tuesday.
Merkel met several committees of the Indonesian Churches Communion (CCI), here on Tuesday, discussing the condition of churches and human rights in Indonesia, said CCI Chairman Priest Andreas Anangguru Yewangoe.
"She asked whether Indonesian people have the right not to embrace any particular religion," said Yewangoe after meeting the Chancellor.
Yewangoe said he explained to Merkel that according to human rights, everyone had his own right to not believe in one certain religion. However, he added, based on Indonesia`s official philosophical foundation, Pancasila, every citizen had to embrace one religion.
Merkel`s visit to Immanuel Church was part of her two-day official trip to Indonesia, from Tuesday to Wednesday (July 11). She arrived at Immanuel Church on Tuesday afternoon, and was welcomed to carols by a choir.
"I`m glad to be here for the carols. I am also happy to be able to exchange ideas with some of the church committees here. We also have Christian churches in Germany, thus the similarities," Merkel said in the Church.
After visiting the Church, Merkel went to Istiqlal Mosque, the largest mosque in Southeast Asia. She planned to have a bilateral meeting and an official banquet with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Merkel aims to take up issues on regional security, such as the fight against piracy in the Strait of Malacca linking the Indian Ocean to the Pacific, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity. (F013/BSR/B003)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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