Istiqlal bombing condemned<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Political and religious leaders expressed
\noutrage on Tuesday over the bombing of the Istiqlal Grand Mosque
\nthe day before, while President B.J. Habibie condemned the brutal
\nact as an attempt to foil the June 7 general election.<\/p>\n
The President speculated the blast was aimed at provoking
\nMuslims into acts of violence against followers of other
\nreligions, in a bid to create chaos throughout the country.<\/p>\n
\"I appeal to the whole community, especially Muslims, not to
\nfall into the traps of those who want to thwart the general
\nelection,\" Habibie said at the opening of the Islamic
\norganization Al-Ittihadiyah conference at the State Palace.<\/p>\n
He said destruction of any worship places was barbaric,
\nimmoral, and could not be tolerated by any religion. He pledged
\nthe elections would proceed no matter what happened.<\/p>\n
\"There is no reason for us to postpone the elections,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Ittihadiyah chairman Ali Imran Kadir said to the President
\nthat whoever was responsible for the bombing was insane.<\/p>\n
Separately, Jakarta Archbishop Julius Cardinal Darmaatmadja,
\nwho lives at the Cathedral Church compound, across the road from
\nthe Istiqlal, expressed deep sorrow over the incident.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Buddhist Council (Walubi) chairwoman Siti Hartati
\nMurdaya said she was outraged at the irresponsible action and
\nurged the government to thoroughly investigate the incident.<\/p>\n
\"All religions teach peace and tolerance, (the bombing) must
\nhave been done by people who do not have a religion,\" she said.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) expressed concern
\nand solidarity with Muslims throughout the country.<\/p>\n
\"We hope the government and security apparatus will take firm
\naction in accordance with the law,\" PGI deputy secretary-general
\nWeinata Sairin said in a statement.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) Amien Rais told
\nthe government there was a limit to the patience of Indonesian
\nMuslims.<\/p>\n
\"If we are always asked not to be provoked while uncivilized
\nmeasures against Muslims continue, I am afraid that Muslims would
\nturn to violence because there is limit to their patience,\" Amien
\nsaid after attending the 18th anniversary of Muhammadiyah
\nUniversity in Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
He said most of the fatal victims in various riots across the
\ncountry were Muslims, while the instigators of the violence
\nremain untouchable.<\/p>\n
\"The bombing of Istiqlal mosque is the peak, because a mosque
\nis the heart for Muslims, a holy place for them,\" Amien said.<\/p>\n
In Pugeran, Yogyakarta, a group of unidentified people threw a
\nfirecracker at a church, but there was no report of any injuries.<\/p>\n
Chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Abdurrahman Wahid also linked
\nthe Istiqlal bombing to a chain of terrorism designed to halt the
\nJune 7 elections.<\/p>\n
\"It is related to riots in Ambon and Sambas,\" he claimed.<\/p>\n
\"It was done by floating groups comprising ex-Armed Forces
\nmembers, but they're not in the structural command,\" said
\nAbdurrahman, better known as Gus Dur, in a press conference at NU
\nheadquarter in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, chairman of the General Elections Committee Gen.
\n(ret) Rudini insisted the June 7 poll would go ahead as scheduled
\neven though disturbances from various irresponsible parties will
\nlikely continue.<\/p>\n
Also condemning the bombing was Minister of Justice Muladi.<\/p>\n
\"It's a sacrilege ... committed by those who have a very evil
\nintention to cause riots,\" Muladi told journalists at the House
\nof Representatives.<\/p>\n
He urged the security authority to immediately begin a full-
\nscale intelligence operation to track down those responsible.<\/p>\n
Chaidir Fadhil, head of the Jakarta chapter of Majelis Dakwah
\nIslamiyah (MDI), said provocateurs, after successfully starting
\nconflict among Muslims and Christians in Maluku, were trying to
\ndo the same here.<\/p>\n
\"We will not let what had happened in Ambon and Sambas spread
\nto here,\" Chaidir said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Misbachnul Anan, secretary-general of the Islamic
\nDefender Front, said the Armed Forces (ABRI) could not \"play
\ngames\" this time.<\/p>\n
\"Either the Armed Forces catch those bombers and sentence them
\nto death or we ourselves will take strong action,\" Misbachnul
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of Muslims, arriving from Tangerang, Serang, Bogor
\nand Banten, were seen praying at the mosque, after viewing the
\nshattered windows of the offices on the ground floor.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta chapter of the Association of Indonesian Muslim
\nIntellectuals (ICMI) demanded that the government arrest the
\nmasterminds of the bombing as soon as possible.<\/p>\n
\"We call on all Muslims to exercise self restraint, and remain
\nvigilant against any provocation which can destroy the national
\nunity,\" ICMI acting chairman Said Zainal Abidin said.
\n(aan\/ylt\/edt\/30\/44\/swa\/nur\/45\/prb)<\/p>",
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