Jusuf Kalla's Lecture at UGM Draws Attention, Remarks on Poso-Ambon Conflict Spark Controversy
A lecture by the 10th and 12th Vice President of Indonesia, Jusuf Kalla (JK), titled 'Indonesia's Diplomatic Strategy in Mitigating Potential Escalation of Multipolar Regional War' at UGM Mosque has come under the spotlight after video clips went viral on social media. The controversy primarily stems from JK's statements discussing the Poso and Ambon conflicts and the use of religious narratives, including the term 'mati syahid' (martyrdom), by the conflicting parties.
In his lecture, JK emphasized peace as the highest virtue, citing a hadith of the Prophet Muhammad about the nobility of reconciling disputing parties. He explained that conflicts in Indonesia, such as those in Poso and Ambon, were rooted in injustice and evolved through the use of religious narratives to justify violence, where both sides once held misconceptions about heaven. JK's spokesperson, Husain Abdullah, clarified that these statements described the sociological reality during the conflict, not personal opinions, and JK reminded that no religion justifies killing as a path to heaven.
JK also highlighted Indonesia's role in global peace, referencing constitutional obligations and past diplomatic efforts like the Asia-Africa Conference. The lecture was intended as a lesson from conflict resolution experiences, with an approach to correct misunderstandings on both sides. The ensuing controversy is seen as arising from incomplete, out-of-context excerpts of his remarks.
https://www.gelora.co/2026/04/