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Indonesia: historic Catholic leader becomes a national hero
by Mathias Hariyadi
President of the Catholic party of Indonesia during the Sukarno regime, Joseph Kasim is today one of the six most important figures of the country. Before his death in 1986, for over 30 years he was one of the few leaders to oppose the dictatorship of a communist regime.
Jakarta (AsiaNews) - Catholic nationalist Ignatius Joseph Kasimo Hendrowahjono is today a national hero. With a special ceremony held at the presidential palace, Indonesian President Yudhoyono added the name of the Christian leader, who died in 1986, among those of the great figures of the country. A total of six people over the years have received the honor. Among them Idham Chalid, founder of Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia's largest moderate Muslim organization.
Born in Jakarta in 1900, Ignatius Joseph Hendrowahjono Kasim, known as Mr. Kasim, was one of the most influential people during and after the country's independence on August 17, 1945. Of humble origin, Kasim studied at the Jesuit missionaries school of Muntinal (Java). During these years he decided to be baptized. In the years of Sukarno's dictatorship (1945 - 1966), he was chairman of the National Catholic Party, the only Christian political formation present in the years of the regime. In what is now referred to as the "Old Order", Kasim played various leading political roles to become a cabinet minister. However, his figure stands out not only for tasks accomplished, but especially for his great faith and testimony as a Catholic. In 1955, his party was the only one together with the Islamic Masyumi party to oppose communism, when Sukarno formed Nasakom, which means: Nationalism, religion and communism.
Hari Tjan Silalahi, a political analyst and founder of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), describes Kasim as "an angel of his time" who over the years the regime never accepted corruption. "He was a very simple person - he says - but with a strong vision. Especially since he conceived the government as a tool to serve the people, without distinction of class or religion. "