RI Still Has Homework in Building Tolerance

Nusa Dua (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono acknowledged that Indonesia still had homework on developing unity, harmony and tolerance. "The reforms movement has demanded democracy and freedom but their presence should not create disharmony among us all," President Yudhoyono told about 300 Indonesian media editors who were holding a summit here on Friday. The President underscored the importance of harmony among all Indonesian people who were composed of citizens with various identities, religions, ethnic groups and other identities. "I ask the support of the press circles, mass media and media editors to work hard to forge harmony and tolerance among us," the President said. He said that the social development his government had been doing so far was not a mere effort to create a peaceful society. "We are building not only a peaceful society but also a good society. Good society is part of a good civilization which we all idealize and continue to develop in broader sense," the President said. On the occasion, the president also joked by saying that it was not impossible that in 2014 a media editor would become a president. That was why he wanted to have dialogs with the media editors. As fellow countrymen, the President asked the media editors to look Indonesia's condition today and the ideals the nation was willing to achieve. "Do not look at Indonesia as photograph, but look at it as a motion picture which will show comprehensive pictures about this nation," he said. (*)