City holds religious meet<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): About 18,000 Moslems, including some two hundred
\nforeigners, are attending a three-day gathering in Tanjung Priok,
\nNorth Jakarta, which started yesterday, to listen to a series of
\nsermons and speeches and to broaden their knowledge of Islam.<\/p>\n
The foreign participants are from Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam,
\nthe Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n
An organizer said that after the gathering, the participants
\nwill go to more than 240 regencies in the country, and some even
\nwill travel overseas to remind other fellow Moslems of their
\nreligious obligations to glorify the name of Allah the Almighty.<\/p>\n
This year's event is the 15th of an annual series.<\/p>\n
City Military chief Maj.Gen. Wiranto told the local
\nparticipants in his keynote address at the gathering, that they
\nshould actively take part in keeping the unity of the nation by
\nminimizing differences among the people.<\/p>\n
Wiranto reminded them that through sholat jamaah (Moslem mass
\nprays), Moslems are taught to maintain unity and foster
\nbrotherhood among themselves as well as with those who embrace
\ndifferent faiths.<\/p>\n
Some countries face great problems such as civil war and
\nprolonged political conflicts because they have failed to
\npreserve national unity, he pointed out, citing the breakdown of
\nthe Soviet Union and the war-infested areas in former Yugoslavia.<\/p>\n
\"Disunity might be caused by differences regarding ethnical,
\nreligion and political interests and issues,\" he said, adding
\nthat it would be better for the nation to concentrate on
\nimproving people's welfare rather than engaging in differences
\nthat have the potential to split the country.<\/p>\n
He also reminded the participants that the nation should
\nprepare quality younger generations and human resources with a
\nhigh sense of integrity and discipline.<\/p>\n
The general appealed to all parties, especially God-fearing
\nMoslems, to share the responsibility for grooming youths with
\nstrong personality and a high degree of morality.<\/p>\n
Wiranto also called on the local participants to help promote
\nthe national discipline campaign launched by President Soeharto
\nin May, saying that discipline was a prerequisite for the nation
\nto face challenges in this era of globalization. (29)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/city-holds-religious-meet-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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