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Cultural
gaps define sectarian conflicts, observers say
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The
Jakarta Post
October
19, 2002
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Cultural gaps define sectarian
conflicts, observers say
Jupriadi, The Jakarta Post, Makassar, South Sulawesi
Cultural observers and experts concluded on Friday that different perceptions of
other cultures have been in most cases responsible for the sectarian conflicts
plaguing the country.
"The situation has been worsened by the absence of open minds able to
accept the differences between cultures ... An improvement in education about
cultural values is needed," said Ayatrohadi, a cultural observer, at the
conclusion of the 2002 Archipelago Cultural Meeting here.
The two-day meeting which ended on Friday was attended by at least 149
representatives from 14 princely dynasties and experts from across the country,
and involved a joint attempt to find a formula that could be used to avoid
conflicts in the regions and to establish a discourse on the variety of cultures
in Indonesian.
The participants including the Yogyakarta and Surakarta sultanates, Mataram in
West Nusa Tenggara, Padang in West Sumatra, and the hosts from the Gowa and Bone
sultanates in South Sulawesi.
A team was set up to formulate conclusions and recommendations arising from the
meeting, with members including noted observers Mochtar Pabottingi, Abu Hamid,
Anhar Gonggong, Darmawan Masud, Alfian Mallarangeng, Hamid Awaluddin and Rahman
Arge.
The team arrived at seven conclusions and four recommendations.
Among the recommendations, the team highlighted the need to seek out the values
of ancient cultures in order to find basic values on which the nation could base
the quest for justice in the future.
It also recommended an overhaul of the education system aimed at teaching
democratic principles to future generations.
"The recommendations will soon be submitted to President Megawati
Soekarnoputri for putting into effect," said Yogyakarta's Sultan Hamengku
Buwono X, who headed the formulating team, while officially closing the meeting.
The sultan said the government was now facing a challenging test in upholding
the tenets of the various Indonesian cultures, a test that included
cross-cultural conflicts as well as external factors, such as the recent terror
bombings on Bali.
"This meeting is an effort to maintain our cultural identity, as well as to
re-establish the spirit of honorable civilization.
"All ethnic groups together with the government have to awaken. And Jakarta
should also comprehend the wishes of regional ethnic groups to build a
harmonious dialogue," the Sultan remarked.
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