REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Pancasila's Day of Allegiance once again reminds everyone of its position as a unifier of the nation amid the threat of intolerance and extremism. National Director of GusDurian Network Indonesia (GNI) and Chairman of Tanfidziyah PBNU, Alissa Wahid stressed the importance of maintaining identity balance as the key to ward off excessive fanaticism.
Alissa Wahid highlighted the importance of using the constitutional framework in responding to sensitive issues related to diversity. According to him, the constitution became a clearer and universal measure of addressing diversity.
“When we respond to an incident, there must be a clear measurement and agreed upon by all parties involved. Existing dialogue spaces should be optimized to foster tolerance and prevent intolerance. The spirit should be the same, which is to care for the nationality, not apologetics or defense against actions outside the applicable law,” Alissa explained some time ago.
Alissa further reveals that often Indonesians are presented with a rambling religious understanding, but lose their substance as godly fellow humans. In order to increase the engagement or enthusiasm of their worshippers, some religious figures have easily breathed narratives of intolerance, to incitement to violence, without thinking about the implications for nations and countries.
Such religious leaders, according to Alissa, are often encouraged to overprioritize the religious spirit. If Indonesians find that there are religious leaders who invite to prioritize religious spirit, but with the consequence of considering fellow Indonesians who are not in a group with them as enemies, Alissa said they should not follow.
He also reminded that there are times when the rules of the state should take precedence even though they differ from the teachings of certain religions. “There are things that may be allowed by my religion, but are not allowed in Indonesia. Therefore, as religious people, we must be smart in positioning ourselves. It should not be under the pretext of upholding the faith, but it actually erodes the rights of religious people outside their groups,” Alissa said.
According to Alissa, the key to avoiding excessive fanaticism is to maintain the balance of three identities within each citizen. “The most important thing is that we always remember that within us it is one, we have we are religious believers. Secondly, we also have an identity as Indonesian citizens. Third, we are part of the human race,” he explained.
He also reiterated Pancasila's important role as a unifying ideology of the nation capable of accommodating diversity while warding off extremism. By maintaining a balance between religious identity, citizenship, and humanity, it is hoped that Indonesians can continue to build tolerance and avoid excessive fanaticism that could threaten the unity of the nation.
Although most religious perpetrators of violence in Indonesia have an Islamic background, Alissa reiterated that the acts of extremism are not linked to any particular religion.
According to him, religious-based violence, if one were to look at it more comprehensively, would come to the conclusion that the majority religion of a region or country would tend to commit more violence in the name of its religion.
This is not only the case in Indonesia, but also in countries such as Buddhist-majority Myanmar, or India, where most of the population is Hindu. Both Myanmar and India have had many cases of violence perpetrated by their majority religious groups.
Alissa hopes that all parties, especially religious leaders in Indonesia, both minorities and majorities, prioritize understanding religious moderation in their respective neighborhoods. This is aimed at ensuring that all religious groups do not stutter in addressing religious differences, so that Indonesian society as a whole is more resistant to polarization efforts that benefit certain groups.
To quote Mahatma Gandhi's message, “An eye for an eye will make the world blind. 'If our orientation when in conflict with a particular party or group is by hurting each other and avenging ugliness with ugliness, then the suffering experienced by all parties involved will never be finished,” concludes Alissa.
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