Merauke – In the series of her working visit to Merauke Regency, Papua, the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture witnessed the peace declaration of inter-faith youth in GOR Hiad Sai Trikora. The Coordinating Minister emphasized that the pluralism of Indonesia is a gift from God.
Five youths from inter-faith communities read the peace declaration in front of the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani who was accompanied by the Minister for Health Nila Moeloek, Minister for Women Empowerment and Children Protection Yohana Yambisey, Head of BNPB Willem Rampangilei, Chief of Kopassus Maj. Gen. Matsuni and Merauke Regent Fredericus Gebze. After reading the declaration, the Coordinating Minister along with Merauke Regent went on stage to witness the signing of the declaration of Merauke inter-faith youth.
The reading and signing took place on the sidelines of the Youth Movement on Reading the Cross-Religion Scriptures initiated by the Ministry of Youth and Sports. “I appreciate the implementation of the scriptures reading by inter-faith youth, hopefully this activity can strengthen the unity of Indonesia,” she said. Moreover, she thinks that the event coincided with the commemoration of Youth Pledge Day /Sumpah Pemuda.
She explained that Indonesia has more than 714 tribes with 1,100 different languages and located on more than 17,000 islands. The world’s major religions are also existence in Indonesia namely Islam, Catholicism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. “We are not the same, but we work together to build Indonesia to be a prosperous, advanced and cultured home,” she said.
The event was also filled with scriptural reading from inter-faith scriptures. According to the Coordinating Minister, the reading of scriptures by interfaith youths is an effort to build mutual trust, mutual understanding, and mutual social life building based on Pancasila. “Let us realize, believe, and convey to our small environment, starting from family members, neighbors, and community that plurality is a gift from God to Indonesia,” she concluded.
On that occasion, the Coordinating Minister also had given a quiz for those who can memorize the Pancasila. Two lucky youths who got a laptop from the Coordinating Minister were Mary Magdalena, student of Musamus University and Aluya Mustofa, student of SMA 2 Merauke.
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