"There are more than 1,300 ethnic groups in Indonesia. Indonesia is the world`s largest Muslim nation. Muslims make up 85 percent of the population of 252 million," Jokowi said.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) opened the Bali Democracy Forum (BDF) on Thursday raising issue of pluralism, which has become a public concern in the country lately.
The 9th BDF came amid strong calls in Jakarta for pluralism as characteristics of democracy .
"There are more than 1,300 ethnic groups in Indonesia. Indonesia is the worlds largest Muslim nation. Muslims make up 85 percent of the population of 252 million," Jokowi said when opening the forum in the Bali International Convention Center (BICC) Nusa Dua, Badung, Bali.
He said Islam came to Indonesia first in the 7th century with peaceful spirit, which Indonesian Muslims have continued to foster until now.
"Beside for Muslims, Indonesia is also home for Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and Confucians," he said .
The delegates to the forum are invited to visit the Bali Bina Insani Islamic Boarding School in Tabanan, city not far northwest of Denpasar.
"You can imagine without high value of tolerance, how could an Islamic boarding school stand peacefully among the vast majority of Hinduism adherents on Bali Island."
"This has contributed to synergy between religions, tolerance and democracy in Indonesia. The December 2 action in Jakarta was also a proof (of tolerance)," Jokowi said.
The BDF opening ceremony was attended by prominent figures like Tunisian Nobel peace laureate Ouided Bouhamaoui, former U.N. secretary General Kofi Annan, and foreign ministers and delegates from 94 countries.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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