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Gus Dur would have loudly condemned recent acts of intolerance: Activist
Jakarta Post - December 23, 2016
Hendardi, chairman of human rights organization the Setara Institute, said Gus Dur had contributed a great deal to building up Indonesian pluralism and his vision in this field meant that he deserved to be called a "humanitarian figure".
"Seeing developments in Indonesia recently, Gus Dur would have loudly condemned intolerance, identity politics and all the things that threaten Indonesian diversity," Hendardi said in a statement on Friday.
Gus Dur was widely respected for his policy of protecting minority groups. Taking power in 1999, Gus Dur, for example, issued a regulation one year later declaring Confucianism, a religion adhered to by many Chinese-Indonesians, as a religion recognized by the state.
Gus Dur was impeached in 2001 and he died in late 2009. The anniversary of his death is remembered every year. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is scheduled to attend the anniversary of Gus Dur's death on Friday in Ciganjur, South Jakarta.
"Although he is no longer able to speak, Gus Dur's teachings are in the hearts of many who struggle to maintain Indonesia's diversity," Hendardi said. (jun)
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