Gus Dur performs 'umrah', holds talks with King Fahd<\/p>\n
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid upon
\nhis arrival here Friday evening, immediately went to Mecca to
\nperform the umrah, Islamic minor pilgrimage.<\/p>\n
Side-by-side with his wife, Sinta Nuriyah, the President
\nwalked as he performed the first part of the ritual of circling
\nthe Kaaba.<\/p>\n
During the Sa'i, traversing between two small hills seven
\ntimes, the president and first lady were pushed in a wheel chair
\nto perform the physically demanding ritual.<\/p>\n
After a four hour stay in Mecca the presidential entourage
\nreturned to Jeddah.<\/p>\n
The umrah was the first itinerary in the president's three-day
\nvisit to Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n
On Saturday morning he went to Nabawi Mosque where the Prophet
\nMuhammad is buried.<\/p>\n
Later Saturday evening he met with King Fahd to discuss
\nbilateral ties between the two countries.<\/p>\n
His visit here is the first stop of a 16 day tour to Middle
\nEastern, European and Asian countries.<\/p>\n
On Sunday the President and his entourage, which includes
\nForeign Minister Alwi Shihab, State Minister of Research and
\nTechnology AS Hikam and a large group of businessmen, will
\ncontinue their trip to Geneva, Switzerland, where they will
\nattend the World Economy Forum in Davos.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile back in Indonesia, talk of possible coups continued.<\/p>\n
House of Representatives speaker Akbar Tandjung expressed
\nconfidence that the Indonesian Military (TNI) would not undertake
\nsuch a drastic move while the President was away.<\/p>\n
\"Such a move by TNI would only stimulate a strong reaction
\nfrom the people. The military would have to directly confront the
\npeople,\" he said after attending a gathering of Golkar cadres in
\nYogyakarta on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\"The TNI chief has also guaranteed national security during
\nthe President's trip abroad. He also pledged to unify all
\nelements within TNI,\" Akbar added.<\/p>\n
Talk of a possible coup has been rife since before the
\npresident left for his trip abroad.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman himself expressed faith in the military saying he
\nwas confident that at least 90 percent of the officers were
\nloyal.<\/p>\n
Akbar on Saturday remarked that in an open and democratic era
\nthe public was always wary of the military, keeping a close watch
\non their moves.<\/p>\n
Speaking of the latest visit abroad, the House speaker
\nconceded that the visit was important but questioned the long
\nduration of the tour.<\/p>\n
\"If the President asked us, the House would not have recommend
\nhim go abroad for 16 days,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Akbar said the latest tour should have been divided into three
\ndifferent trips with three or four destination countries at a
\ntime. (prb\/44)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gus-dur-performs-umrah-holds-talks-with-king-fahd-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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