Army chief to attend mass prayer<\/p>\n
SURABAYA: Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu and
\nformer president Abdurrahman Wahid are expected to attend a mass
\nprayer meeting organized by Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) in Surabaya,
\nEast Java, next Sunday.<\/p>\n
\"According to NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi, foreign affairs
\nminister Hasan Wirayuda, religious affairs minister Said Aqil
\nHusein Almunawar, Army chief Ryamizard and several cabinet
\nministers are planning to attend the prayer meeting,\" organizing
\ncommittee chairman Sholeh Hayat said in Surabaya, East Java, on
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
NU, the country's largest Muslim organization, is organizing
\nthe prayer meeting at the Brawijaya military headquarters on
\nSunday. Over one million people, including foreign dignitaries
\nand leaders of other religions, are expected to attend the
\ngathering.<\/p>\n
Sholeh said they had not invited President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri, Vice President Hamzah Haz, House of
\nRepresentatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung or People's Consultative
\nAssembly Speaker Amien Rais, as the committee wanted to avoid
\n\"the prayer meeting turing into a political gathering\".<\/p>\n
\"The prayer is for the people, the nation and world peace.
\nIt's not political,\" Sholeh said, adding that the committee had
\ninvited the ministers in their private capacities.<\/p>\n
NU claims to have some 40 million members. --JP<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/army-chief-to-attend-mass-prayer-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }