Editorial: True Leadership Defends Minorities
Indonesia's Constitution clearly sets out "Unity in Diversity," as the nation's foundation. Religious pluralism and freedom should be an unshakeable value for all Indonesians. We live and die to defend this foundation, because we know that once we sacrifice it for short-term political gain, we will cease to exist as a nation.
It is with this understanding that we reject any plan or movement to eliminate minorities from the country just because they are different, as radical Sunni organizations are planning against minority Shiites.
As power struggles between Shiite and Sunni in the Middle East intensify, we in Indonesia must prevent it from spreading worldwide by showing that both major sects of Islam can coexist peacefully, as has been the case here since the religion reached Indonesian shores centuries ago.
We are much too smart to allow ourselves to fall prey to hatred-sowing foreign powers wishing to use us their proxies in a war to eliminate each other. Our founding fathers, who created a masterpiece in the form of our Constitution, could and did resolve such differences, thus setting us an example of how to live in peace.
We call on Indonesians, Sunni and Shiite alike, to follow in the steps of our founding fathers, and stop invoking hatred, let alone taking part in attacks that could cost our nation as a whole. Once again we urge President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to step in and show no tolerance for those who are trying to divide the nation on behalf of certain religious teachings. Don't for a moment imagine you can take advantage of the situation by taking no action.
We are telling you, Mr. President, that bold, impartial action to maintain peace and defend the rights of minorities will ensure you go down in the country's annals as a true statesman.
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