The Indonesian Embassy in The Hague expressed its endorsement to holding the fourth Interfaith dialog, which will be organized by Indonesia and the Netherlands in Ambon on August 24 to 26.
The statement was made by Indonesian Ambassador to the Netherlands I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja during the reception organized for the board of Netherlands-Indonesia Consortium for Muslim-Christian Relations, held in Den Haag.
The consortium is an NGO whose members are academics from various universities across the Netherlands and Indonesia.
Corrie Van Der Ven, the representative from the Dutch Christian Church, who is also the consortiums chairman, spoke briefly of their efforts to implement interfaith activities between the two countries in collaboration with the Indonesian Embassy.
Furthermore, Corrie shed light on her organizations plan to hold a Bilateral Interfaith Dialog in Ambon as a follow up to the earlier one held in Den Haag on September 25, 2015.
Ambassador Puja responded positively by saying that the dialog process can be sustained as it opened up opportunities for gaining a better understanding of different faiths.
Furthermore, the ambassador suggested that the upcoming dialog in Ambon would involve figures from other faiths rather that only Islam and Christianity, while at the same time bring together more experts and academicians.
Apart from the dialog, an anthology containing essays written by 12 Dutch authors and 15 Indonesian writers titled “Costly Tolerant” will be launched along with a seminar on deradicalization and a study visit by theology students.
During their first meeting with Ambassador Puja, Professor Robert Setio from the Duta Wacana Christian University (DWCU) in Yogyakarta took the opportunity to introduce the consortiums board members, including Professor Gerrit Singgih from DWCU in Yogyakarta, Dr Syahiron Syamsuddin from the Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University, Dr Suratno from the Paramadina University in Jakarta, as well as two representatives from the Netherlands, Gezina Speelman and Corrie Van Der Ven.
The Indonesian academics are visiting the Netherlands to attend the deradicalization seminar organized by the Radboud University, Nijmegen.
