Manado, N Sulawesi - Christian youth organizations here have declared their readiness to help maintain public security during the Idul Fitri (Muslim post-fasting-month) holidays.
"We will guard all locations used for Idul Fitri prayers in North Sulawesi. Thereby, our community will always live in peace and harmony," Franky Mokodompis, general secretary of the Youth Commission of the Minahasa Evangelical Church (GMIN) said in Manado on Monday.
Mokodompis also asked the public to always respect the holy days of religious communities to which they did not belong. Such respect was a form of the inter-religious tolerance existing in the region and aimed to avoid violence or destructive actions.
"Inter-religious tolerance in North Sulawesi has existed for quite a long time . Muslim youth organizations also always help to maintain security around churches during Christmas, New Year and also Easter," he said.
An executive of the Indonesian Christian Students Movement (GSKI), Sandy Lantang, said with Idul Fitri now only a few days ahead, it was important to ensure tranquil and secure conditions in the community.
"North Sulawesi has always been in secure and conducive conditions on holy days because there is a high degree of inter-religious tolerance among the people," he said.
Source: http://www.antaranews.com (September 23, 2008)