Religious Trainers Can Overcome Friction in Political Years

KABARTIMURNEWS.COM – The Center for Religion and Democracy Studies (PUSAD) of the Paramadina Foundation Jakarta, in collaboration with the Director-General of Islamic Binmas at the Ministry of Religion, held a two-day religious extension workshop at the Swisbell Hotel, Ambon City, Tuesday (27/11).

The religious extension workshop with the theme “Religion, Harmony, and Binadhan in Indonesia”, was held to overcome various frictions that occasionally occur in society, especially in the current Political year.

“Even if there is friction, it will take place safely. Why extension agent, because he is at the forefront. His position is very important in front of the community, ”said Ihsan Ali Fauzi, founder, and director of PUSAD Paramadina Foundation Jakarta, to reporters in Ambon yesterday.

For two days, he said, the extension agents would be given various knowledge, such as insight into nationalism, including tolerance and inclusiveness. He admitted, there must be friction, normal and natural in society. However, overcoming it is not by means of violence, but by prioritizing deliberation and mediation.

“Regarding the conflict, there is a conflict, normal, natural, it only has to be resolved by peaceful means. So the conflict is not resolved by fighting, but by means of deliberation, mediation, “he explained.

In the political year, continued Ihsan, every region that has been hit by conflict will be considered a vulnerable area. However, for him, the embedding of these vulnerable areas does not necessarily create anger, but how can the community be able to overcome them with better preparation.

“As far as I know, all areas that have experienced violence are considered vulnerable. In my opinion, he just responded positively. No need to respond angrily. If that’s the case, then ok. So that we have more preparations, “he said.

Ihsan admitted that he once regretted the occurrence of religious-nuanced conflicts in Maluku. But from this conflict, there is a big lesson that can be taken and used as a valuable experience to move forward further.

“So when we talk about the past, the big point is what lessons we take. Among other things, preventive measures to manage the tension, so that the tension does not escalate into violence, “he explained.

The tolerance for social life in Maluku is currently very high. But on the other hand, the challenges ahead will be heavier with the presence of social media. An incident in Jakarta, for example, said Ihsan, within seconds of the same day could affect Ambon, Maluku.

“So the challenges in Ambon and Maluku could occur in other places and have an impact here. So that learning to overcome past problems must be strengthened to face newer challenges. Among other things, social media, which used to be in 1998-2000, did not yet exist or was not as intensive as it is today. Now it’s even more intensive, “he said.

Maluku, added Ihsan, has experience in managing rumors. Especially with the presence of social media which has recently been used as a tool to spread hatred and hoaxes (untrue news).

“So technically how social media is managed to avoid hoaxes and fight it. And more importantly, we want to learn from Maluku. We can take what has been done here as a lesson for friends in Western Indonesia, “he hoped.

Ali Nur Sahid, research staff of PUSAD Paramadina Foundation Jakarta, admitted that the religious extension workshops were held in nine cities in Indonesia, including Ambon City.

“This activity is in collaboration with the Director-General of Islamic Binmas, Ministry of Religion. Previously in Manado, Kupang, Palangkaraya, Semarang, Bandung, Bima, and currently Ambon. Next week in Aceh, “he told Kabar Timur.

The activity focused on Ambon City, added Ali, because he wanted to learn how to build binadamai. “Regarding what kind of conflict, and what should be done,” he said.

According to him, this activity was also carried out for sharing related to various issues related to religion and how to manage them. “So that one of the materials we introduce is How to Handle Conflict, How to Recognize Hate Speech, Hoaxes and so on. Especially in this political year, hate speech and hoaxes are on the rise, “he explained.

He explained that the function of religious extension agents in the political year was considered very important to reduce and control situations that were related to ethnicity, religion, race, and intergroup (SARA). Extension officers at the forefront of the Ministry of Religion, especially the government, have sufficient insight and adequate skills in dealing with issues of religious and political conflicts using SARA issues. “Participants who participated as many as 60 people from Islamic, Christian, Catholic, Hindu, Buddhist extension, all of them,” he concluded. (CR1)

source: https://www.kabartimurnews.com/2018/11/28/penyuluh-agama-mampu-atasi-gesekan-di-tahun-politik/