Office At The Buddhist Religious Complex In Mareje Burned, PGI: It Seems That The Fragility Of The Nation's Solidarity

Photo by David von Diemar on Unsplash

JAKARTA - Six houses and offices at the secretariat complex of the Buddhist Religious Development Institute (LPKB) in Mareje village, Sheet sub-district, West Lombok were burned last Tuesday, May 3. This incident further emphasizes the fragility of solidarity among the citizens of the nation.

"This kind of violence further shows the fragility of solidarity among citizens of the nation. On the other hand, this incident also shows the strengthening of religious exclusivity and the ease with which people are provoked," said PGI's Head of Public Relations, Jeirry Sumampow in his official statement, Thursday 12 May.

PGI firmly stated that the incident was an act of intolerance and a crime which was in complete contradiction with Pancasila, the Constitution, and Human Rights.

PGI is worried that if this kind of thing continues to become a pattern in responding to all events that occur in society, it will result in a worsening of the national situation.

PGI sympathizes with the victims of the burning of local residents' houses in Lombok, which has triggered panic among the Buddhist community in Lombok.

They also urged law enforcement officers, the TNI, and the National Police to thoroughly investigate the perpetrators and intellectual actors behind this incident so that they can then be dealt with according to applicable legal procedures.

"Requesting religious and community leaders in Lombok to prioritize inclusive dialogue and build interfaith networks to take steps to anticipate and mitigate the field," said Jeirry.

"The central government can rehabilitate physical damage to buildings and recover victims and provide legal and social protection guarantees for victims," he said.