Moslem forum holds thanksgiving ceremony<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Around 5,000 Moslem youths packed the Al Azhar
\nGrand Mosque in South Jakarta yesterday to commemorate the Moslem
\ncommunity's contribution to the country's hard-fought battle for
\nindependence 50 years ago.<\/p>\n
The tasyakkur (thanksgiving) event was organized by the
\nIslamic Brotherhood Forum, which groups more than a dozen Moslem
\norganizations, along with the national committee for the 50th
\nanniversary of Indonesian independence, which is being led by
\nformer minister for environment Emil Salim.<\/p>\n
Female students in colorful veils and male students streamed
\ninto the mosque by the dozens, many of whom had to stand outside
\nof the mosque due to a lack of space.<\/p>\n
The congregation chanted Allahu Akbar (Allah is Great) and
\nsaid prayers in unison, led by prominent preachers in Jakarta,
\nincluding K.H. Chalil Ridwan, Hussein Umar, Abdul Rasjid A.S. and
\nSyuhada Bakri.<\/p>\n
Most of the speakers reminded the young people that Moslems
\nplayed an important role during the struggle for independence,
\nand that the yells of the freedom fighters at the time included
\nAllahu Akbar.<\/p>\n
The preachers are also members of the Indonesian Committee for
\nWorld Moslem Solidarity, which over the years has organized
\nmassive rallies for various causes, including Bosnia-Herzegovina
\nand Palestine.<\/p>\n
The organizers said that similar gatherings involving a great
\nnumber of people are being held simultaneously or will be held in
\nseveral major cities, including Padang.<\/p>\n
\"We wish to show the world that Indonesian Moslems are not a
\nbunch of violent people, we want to tell them that Islam is
\nactually a message of peace,\" according to preacher Ahmad
\nSumargono who also helped organize the gathering.<\/p>\n
\"We call on the government to notice this, not to be afraid of
\nus,\" he said. \"Islam is actually God's blessing for the entire
\nworld, and that we, Moslems, are people of good conduct.\"<\/p>\n
Chairman of the forum Anwar Harjono said in a written speech
\ndelivered by activist A.M. Lutfi, that the golden anniversary of
\nthe National Day in August also marks the increasingly improved
\nrelations between Moslems and the power holders.<\/p>\n
\"For around 30 years, not only was Islam forced to stay on the
\n(political) sidelines, we were also the target of negative
\naccusations and suspicions,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Faith and hard efforts helped changed the situation for the
\nbetter, he said. \"Thank God, for the last four years the
\npolitical situation has gradually (improved). What we hoped for
\nhas started to become a reality,\" he pointed out.<\/p>\n
However, \"we have to realize that the position we have been
\noccupying for the last 30 years cannot be changed within only 30
\ndays,\" he said. \"We need to persevere..in order to make it
\nthrough this transition, from standing on the sidelines to
\nstanding center stage.\"<\/p>\n
To those Moslem groups clamoring for a greater role in
\nsociety, Anwar reminded them that there's no magic way to change
\nreality.<\/p>\n
He also warned against other groups in society who felt
\nthreatened by Moslems' improved relations with the government.
\n\"Those people see the revival of Islam as something scary,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"I'd like to tell them that there's nothing to be frightened
\nof,\" he said. \"Moslems only want to be on equal footing with
\nother groups in society...Islam does not teach its followers to
\nbe hostile toward other people.\"<\/p>\n
The gathering yesterday also called on the government to mark
\nthe nation's golden anniversary by honoring several Moslem
\nleaders. They are K.H. Nur Ali, who led freedom fighters in
\nBekasi; K.H. Sholeh Iskandar, who fought in Bogor and Banten; and
\nthe republic's first attorney general and Muhammadiyah leader
\nKasman Singodimedjo.<\/p>\n
The organizers also called for awards to be given to Sjafrudin
\nPrawiranegara, president of the emergency government when
\npresident Sukarno and other leaders were detained as the
\nrevolutionary capital city, Yogyakarta, was occupied by the Dutch
\ntroops, in 1948, and Mohammad Natsir, the fist prime minister of
\nthe unitary state of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The call for such honors has received wide support from
\nnumerous Moslem leaders, including Amien Rais, the newly re-
\nelected chairman of Muhammadiyah reformist movement, and Mustofa
\nBisri of the rural-based, 30 million-strong Nahdlatul Ulama
\norganization. (swe)<\/p>",
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