E/CN.4/1997/71 page 35 is permitted on the pretext of freedom of expression, to prevail. It would be extremely foolish to condone the practice of racism or religious intolerance in a society like Indonesia, for the logical consequences of such attitude or policy would be a fatal fratricidal conflict among 190 million people, a tragedy which would probably be much more horrible than the one that took place in Rwanda, a nation with a population of 9 million. “Objective foreign observers have commented positively on Indonesia's diversity. For example, Professor Lawrence Sullivan, Director of the Study of World Religions at Harvard University, stated that 'Indonesia has created a situation in which people from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds can live in harmony. This is something that cannot be found in countries in Europe or North America'. “No less than the International Commission of Jurists has stated in one of its books (Rights of the Child, 1993) that 'despite a wide variety of ethnic, racial, religious and other socio-cultural groups throughout the archipelago, Indonesians live in a non-discriminative environment. Successful efforts have been made by the Government to realize equality among them in nation building'. The Australian Section of the International Commission of Jurists has done great disservice to the reputation of the International Commission of Jurists. “It is not only necessary that Indonesia build a strong national identity based on tolerance among the various ethnic groups, races and religions living in the country, but it is also a fact that tolerance is one of the fundamental principles that gave birth to Indonesia itself. These principles are also part of the mandate contained in the 1945 Constitution. The Preamble to the Constitution states, among other things, that 'the State of Indonesia ... shall protect all the people of Indonesia and their native land'. It also states that 'the national independence of Indonesia shall be formulated into a constitution of the sovereign Republic of Indonesia which is based on the belief in the One and Only God, just and civilized humanity, the unity of Indonesia, democracy guided by the inner wisdom of deliberations amongst representatives and the realization of social justice for all the people of Indonesia'. “In this connection, it is also worth mentioning some of the articles of the Constitution bearing on the issue of tolerance. Article 18 of the Constitution stipulates that the social structure of all regions shall be respected by the Government and its regulations. Article 32 elucidates the State’s recognition of all cultural life in all regions as part of the national culture. Article 36 states that the languages of all ethnic groups in Indonesia are to be preserved and recognized as part of the Indonesian culture. “It is the common responsability of both government and society in Indonesia to respect diversity and cultivate tolerance. Providing youths with education on tolerance among ethnic, religious and cultural groups at all levels of schooling is among the Government’s chief successes in promoting tolerance. The principle of just and civilized