Habibie calls for religious harmony<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie performed his dawn prayer
\nat the Istiqlal Grand Mosque here on Sunday with 10,000 other
\nMoslems, during which he urged the nation to maintain religious
\nharmony and non-Moslems to respect Islamic places of worship.<\/p>\n
\"We hope other believers can respect the Moslems' places of
\nworship,\" said the President, reported the Antara news agency.<\/p>\n
The agency said Habibie entered the mosque at 4:05 a.m. and
\nwas accompanied by Minister of Defense Gen. Wiranto, Minister of
\nReligious Affairs Malik Fajar, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Subagyo
\nHS and Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso.<\/p>\n
The President urged Moslems to respect religious plurality in
\nthe country, which has a population of more than 200 million.<\/p>\n
\"Allah teaches us to show tolerance to this plurality.
\nReligious belief cannot be forced on other people,\" he said.<\/p>\n
For Moslems, the President said, plurality was a reality that
\nshould be accepted and respected.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, he said, \"Moslems should respect other religions'
\nplaces of worship. We even have to protect them if somebody wants
\nto destroy them. We regret any actions aimed at damaging those
\nplaces of worship and our religion forbids such action.\"<\/p>\n
During the event, which was aired live by state-owned
\ntelevision station TVRI, Habibie also expressed his happiness
\nbecause many Moslems were still patient and submitting to God
\nduring this difficult situation.<\/p>\n
\"There are many Indonesians who are still maintaining a clear
\nmind in order not to get involved in destructive acts. It is our
\nduty, including the ulema, to call on all followers to do things
\na right way,\" he said.<\/p>\n
On the reform movement, he reminded all citizens of the need
\nto maintain the results of development the country has achieved.<\/p>\n
\"Earlier, we saw a tendency on the part of certain groups in
\nsociety to commit destructive acts,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Habibie also stressed that his government would correct the
\nmistakes and weaknesses of the past. (swe)<\/p>",
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