An interfaith forum has appealed for dialogue, reforms, and national unity as demonstrations continue across the country and security forces are deployed in Jakarta.
The “Interfaith Scholars for National Unity,” comprising Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus, called to “strengthen the commitment to maintaining the integrity of the State,” while rejecting violent actions that “create new wounds” and “misleading statements that widen the gap between politics and citizens.”
In a public note sent to the Vatican’s Fides News Agency, the forum expressed “concern and regret [over] the series of events that have hindered the expression of public aspirations, provoking unrest in various regions of the country.”
Such incidents, they said, have “damaged the sense of national unity and left deep scars on Indonesia’s democratic path.”
The scholars stressed that mistakes and shortcomings “can be useful lessons” to “reflect and improve everything for the common good,” urging authorities to “listen to the aspirations of the people, avoid anarchism and provocative narratives,” and ensure that “the voice of the people must not be ignored; it must be the basis of all state policy and decision-making.”
“National unity,” they affirmed, “is a noble heritage from our founding fathers, which we must preserve with conscience, love for our homeland, and a spirit of mutual cooperation.”
To achieve this, they emphasized the urgency of “opening a space for honest and civilized dialogue, promoting mutual forgiveness, and seeking a middle ground that leads to an agreement.”
“We agree on the need for reform so that Parliament can perform its functions more professionally and efficiently. A strong and dignified Parliament is a fundamental pillar for maintaining Indonesian democracy,” the statement read.
In the city of Semarang, religious leaders likewise gathered at the bishopric to issue a call for peace. They urged the government to “implement fundamental reforms to achieve true reconciliation and harmony,” stressing the priority of dialogue over repression.
Declaring their readiness to support national stability, the leaders said, “religious leaders and the people of Central Java are ready to join forces to preserve peace and advance the nation.”
