Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Jakarta (Fides Service) - “Corruption, violence, Muslim fundamentalism, unemployment, destruction of the environment are some of the problems facing the newly elected President of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono,” says Father Ignazio Ismartono S.J, chairman of the Bishops’ Commission for Interreligious Dialogue is a spokesman for the Bishops’ Conference. He was speaking after the official announcement of the results of the second round of presidential elections, the first democratic elections in Indonesia won by Yudhoyono with 61% compared to outgoing president Megawati Sukarnoputri 39%. The new president will take office on 20 October.
With regard to the outcome of the election and the country’s future Father Ismartono said: “There will not be a revolution, only some continuity or discontinuity with the past. But people will expect the government to fight corruption, which is a cancer in for the life of the society. Violence in too many sectors, especially among the unemployed youths, must be uprooted. There must be more protection for the environment damaged by deforestation and smuggling of precious timber”.
One difficult challenge is how to counter Islamic fundamentalist which threatens the world’s most populous Muslim country: “The number of radical militants is growing because of widespread frustration. The high number of unemployed youths is an easy field from which to fish for new followers. The young men who join are not to blame, they are driven to it by desperation. The way to prevent this violence is to provide more social assistance and adopt fair social policies,” the priest said.
“This is why the Church hopes the new president will work for the common good and respect for human rights which are the only antidote to fundamentalism - Father Ismartono adds. As Christians we have no intention of forming a religious party nor do we have any requests for the new president except to be treated as citizens, with rights and duties and the freedom to practice our faith”.
Indonesia, has a population of 210 million 85% Muslim, 13% Christian including about 6.4 million Catholics.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 5/10/2004 Righe : 37 Parole: 386)
