Moslems told to preserve unity<\/p>\n
PROBOLINGGO, East Java (JP): President Soeharto yesterday
\nreminded Indonesia's Moslems of their duty to preserve the unity
\nof the nation in which people from other faiths, traditions and
\ncultures also live.<\/p>\n
\"Given the diversity of our nation, we have to strive to
\npreserve unity and cohesion,\" Soeharto said in an address to
\ngathering of leaders of pesantren (Moslem boarding schools)
\nassociated with the powerful Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).<\/p>\n
Moslems are called upon to forge common understandings with
\nother communities, he said.<\/p>\n
These shared perceptions should be the base on which
\nharmonious relations are built so that people in Indonesia can
\nlive in mutual love and shed all suspicions and enmity.<\/p>\n
The President's speech came at the heels of a series of
\nattacks against churches over the past year, which threaten to
\nundermine precarious relations between the various religious
\ncommunities.<\/p>\n
The latest attacks happened last month in Situbondo, about 100
\nkilometers from here. Five people were killed when several
\nchurches, a temple and a number of government buildings were
\ntorched by a mob. Police are still investigating the riot.<\/p>\n
Soeharto received a warm reception from the estimated 1,000
\nparticipants as he arrived at the Zainul Hasan Genggong
\npesantren. He was met by NU chief advisor Ilyas Ruchiyat and
\nchairman Abdurrahman Wahid.<\/p>\n
This was the first encounter between Soeharto and Abdurrahman
\nsince the latter was reelected to the NU, a powerful Moslem
\nsociopolitical organization with an estimated 35-30 million loyal
\nfollowers, in December 1994.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman had not been granted an audience at the
\npresidential palace, a tradition for newly elected or reelected
\nleaders of major organizations. Informed sources said the NU
\nchairman canceled a trip to Germany to be here yesterday.<\/p>\n
Traveling with the President from Jakarta were Minister\/State
\nSecretary Moerdiono, Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher,
\nand his eldest daughter Siti Hardijanti Rukmana. East Java
\nGovernor Basofi Soedirman joined the entourage in Surabaya.<\/p>\n
The President called on leaders of the Moslem boarding schools
\nto adapt to the changes of time. \"As traditional education
\ninstitutions which have passed from generation to generation, the
\npesantren should open themselves to change,\" he said.<\/p>\n
No one can withstand the force of change, he said. \"The
\npesantren should no longer isolate themselves the way they did
\nduring the colonial era,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Now, the pesantren has ample opportunity of participating in
\nthe advancement of the nation, not only in education and
\nreligious propagation, but also in social and economic fields,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Agriculture, rural development and the opening of new
\nsettlement areas are some of the fields in which pesantren could
\ntake part, he said.<\/p>\n
Soeharto paid tribute to the role the pesantren played during
\nthe colonial rule, in the fight for independence, and in
\npromoting education over the last 30 years.<\/p>\n
Most of all, he praised the pesantren's contribution toward
\n\"sowing the seeds of love\" through their education. (26\/emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/moslems-told-to-preserve-unity-1447893297",
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