Indonesia: President Yudhoyono Recognizes Diversity as Source of Conflic

t“We are also seeing persistent acts of terrorism, and the growing capacity of terrorist groups to mutate, adapt and present us with new challenges – such as the mail bombs in Indonesia.” 

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | Int'l Desk
Source/Credit: The Jakarta Globe
By Camelia Pasandaran | March 23, 2011

Amid the spate of religious violence in the country, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Wednesday acknowledged before an international defense conference that “differences over identities and beliefs” has been a source of conflict around the world.

Speaking at the opening of the Jakarta International Defense Dialogue, Yudhoyono listed issues that could easily spark conflict around the world.

“The first is what I call diversity issues, where differences over identities and beliefs can sadly turn into conflict and violence,” the president said.


“We are seeing cases, where disputes between religious groups can turn harmonious communities into sworn enemies overnight.

“And we are seeing rising cases of intolerance in many parts of developed and developing world,” he added.

While Yudhoyono's speech seemed to be directed at the state of the international affairs, Indonesia has been suffering from a spate of religious violence, particularly the aggression against the minority Ahmadiyah sect that led to the brutal killing of three its followers in Cikeusik, Banten.

Aside from diversity, the second issue cited by Yudhoyono is lack of governance that can lead to social and economic deprivation, which create political resentments and in turn fuel conflicts. The third issue is resources competition, "where we see a mismatch between the growing population, and declining basic life supplies available to them."

Yudhoyono also expressed his concern over the development of recent intra-state conflicts.

“Intra-state conflicts, which have been rising considerably to around 44 in the last few decades, despite few cases of peaceful resolution, do not show signs of significant reduction.

“We are also seeing persistent acts of terrorism, and the growing capacity of terrorist groups to mutate, adapt and present us with new challenges – such as the mail bombs in Indonesia,” Yudhoyono said.


Read original post here: SBY Recognizes Diversity as Source of Conflic