National Harmony Day Reported By Minister Of Religion Suryadharma Ali In Today's Memory, January 3, 2014

Illustration - Inter-religious harmony is one of the main assets in creating national harmony. (Kominfo.go.id)

JAKARTA - Today's memory, eight years ago, January 3, 2014, the Minister of Religion, Suryadharma Ali announced National Harmony Day (HKN). The declaration aims to remind again that Indonesia's real strength lies in diversity.

Suryadharma hopes that HKN will be held with great fanfare every year. Everything is for the sake of maintaining harmony between religious communities in Indonesia. Previously, Suryadharma deliberately announced that HKN coincided with the Ministry of Religion's birthday (Kemenag).

Pancasila is the basis of the Indonesian state. There is a dedication of the nation's founders behind it. They formulated the presence of Pancasila with consideration and careful thinking. Sometimes with fierce debate.

Soekarno, for example. He put forward the Pancasila doctrine which represents the life of the nation and state. The Pancasila contains nationality, humanity, democracy, prosperity, and piety. However, Islamic leaders want that God must occupy the first position.

As a result, the first precept of Pancasila is God Almighty. The presence of the first precepts is proof that religion and state cannot be separated. The two often go hand in hand. For this reason, the Indonesian government also has the desire to make its own ministry regulate religion. Ministry of Religion, his name.

The Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) was officially born on January 3, 1946. Religious issues are the main focus. Even religious matters come from not only one religion, but also regulate other religions. that is, the Ministry of Religion prioritizes diversity.

If the other precepts are supported by two or three ministries such as the principle of social justice, for example, supported by the Ministry of Social Affairs, Ministry of Poaching, Ministry of Prosperity, Ministry of Justice, and so on. So it is the first precept, regarding One Godhead, supported by the Ministry of Religion but noble and holy."

Ministry of Religion was established or held in the composition of the government cabinet on January 3, 1946. The first Minister of Hajj Rasjidi, who previously served as Minister of State Cabinet II, written in the book Konperence Information Indonesia (1950).

Recently, the Ministry of Religion is considered to belong only to Muslims. The Ministry of Religion is considered unable to stand completely for all religions. Suryadharma Ali did not agree with this. The Minister of Religion in the era of the Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) government considers the breath of the Ministry of Religion to be serving all religions.

For him, religious tolerance must be maintained. Moreover, Indonesia's original strength is diversity. He also tried to make a breakthrough. He also declared HKN on January 3, 2014. The declaration of HKN coincided with the birthday of the Ministry of Religion. A proof that the Ministry of Religion stands up in the spirit of maintaining harmony between religious communities.

Another thing that can be learned from the declaration of HKN is that the Indonesian people must be fully aware that their diversity has the potential to pose a threat. Especially disturbances that can divide the unity and integrity of the nation.

However, the potential for conflict and division can be avoided if there is full awareness from all levels of society to be tolerant and respect each other in embracing their respective religions. Therefore, HKN is the right momentum for the Indonesian people to always revive the spirit of harmony among religious believers in order to avoid conflict, division, and inter-tribal, racial, and religious disputes," said Abdullah Faqih and his friends in the book Suryadharma Ali (2014).