By UCA News Reporter
INDONESIA – People of other faiths joined thousands of Catholics for an interfaith walk for harmony and the environment in the Indonesian capital Jakarta to highlight the message of unity and environmental care.
The walk at the Our Lady of Assumption Cathedral titled “Harmony and Diversity Walk” on May 9 was one of the events marking the 219th anniversary of the Jakarta Archdiocese.
The walk and celebrations drew about 3,500 participants, mostly Catholics but also Protestants, Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus, according to the organizers.
Indonesia’s Religious Affairs minister Nasaruddin Umar attended the anniversary event as a guest.
As part of raising environmental awareness, the organizers distributed tree saplings to the participants.
In his speech, Umar claimed that interreligious harmony in Indonesia “reached its highest level since independence.”
He cited a recent survey that placed the harmony index at 87 percent in Indonesia.
“Indonesia is like a beautiful painting created by God. We must ensure no one damages it,” he said.
He said Jakara is “one of the most peaceful capitals in Southeast Asia.”
The minister mentioned the “Fraternity Tunnel” that connects the Jakarta Cathedral and famed Istiqlal Mosque as a symbol of religious coexistence.
The tunnel was opened ahead of Pope Francis’ visit to Jakarta on Sep 3-6 2024.
He noted that the government has been promoting its “ecotheology” program aimed at integrating environmental values into religious education.
Jakarta Archbishop Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo Hardiatmodjo said the Church deliberately marked its anniversary through activities that strengthen interfaith relationships.
“Our gratitude is not expressed through celebration alone, but through efforts to build friendship and brotherhood among citizens,” he said.
The celebration also highlighted environmental concerns under the theme “Integrity of Creation,” linking interfaith cooperation with ecological responsibility.
Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung called for concrete action to address environmental challenges, including adopting eco-friendly lifestyles and supporting a new citywide waste-sorting initiative.
Analysts and minority advocates have urged caution against overly optimistic claims about religious harmony in Indonesia.
Data from rights groups show the narrative of strong religious harmony does not fully reflect conditions across the nation.
According to Jakarta-based Setara Institute’s 2025 report on freedom of religion and belief, a total of 221 incidents of religious freedom violations were recorded across the country.
The figure marked a slight drop from 260 incidents in 2024.
Activists say the reduction does not indicate meaningful improvement.
“Conditions in 2025 still show no significant improvement,” the institute’s executive director, Halili Hasan, told UCA News, adding that the state has yet to make substantive progress in protecting religious rights.
The report said that both state and non-state actors were involved in violations of religious freedom, and discriminatory regulations remain a key driver of violations, particularly affecting minority communities such as Christians, Catholics, and Ahmadiyah Muslims.
“These regulations continue to limit minority groups in practicing their religion and can legitimize acts of intolerance,” Halili said. – UCA News
