Jakarta –
Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (Gus Yaqut) responded to clashes between mass organizations and defenders Palestine broke in Bitung City, North Sulawesi. Yaqut linked the incident to religion. According to him, religion should be a source of inspiration for peace.
“So we hope that this religion will not be used as a source of division. Religion should be a source of inspiration for peace, for the practice of love between human beings,” said Yaqut to journalists at the DPR RI building, Senayan, Jakarta, (27/11 /2023).
He hopes that ethnic, religious, racial and inter-group conflicts will stop. He believes that religion should be brought to the path of goodness and peace.
“So I think that’s it, stop conflicts of a racial nature like that. There’s no point, religion is for humanity, for goodness, not for division or conflict,” he added.
The Beginning of the Clash
As is known, the incident started when one of the mass organizations was celebrating its 12th anniversary in the Dua Saudara GOR area, Bitung, Saturday (25/11) afternoon. Bitung Police Chief AKBP Tommy said that the anniversary event had received permission from his party.
“Initially it was from an NGO, namely the indigenous community, which was holding its 12th anniversary at the Dua Saudara GOR, with the theme of food sovereignty and local economic revival,” said AKBP Tommy as reported by detikSulsel.
Not long afterward, a crowd defending Palestine passed by the location. Until finally a misunderstanding allegedly arose which led to a clash.
“Perhaps from the video that has been seen, there were actions by certain NGOs related to humanity, related to the events in Gaza, so there was some spontaneity (clashes),” he said.
However, Tommy admitted that he could not provide details regarding the motive for the clash. He said his party was still investigating.
The police also declared a state of alert due to the clash. The joint forces also tightened security at the Bitung border to prevent widespread commotion. This incident left one person dead and two others injured.
(water/land)
2023-11-27 16:11:26
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