Religious leaders call for unity and solidarity<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Prominent religious leaders and scholars
\ngathered on Monday to mourn recent outbreaks of violence that had
\nclaimed many lives, and to make an appeal that it end with last
\nweek's unrest in Ambon.<\/p>\n
The group, consisting of at least 80 religious figures from
\nacross the country, met at the residence of Muslim leader
\nAbdurrahman Wahid in Ciganjur, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
They stated their support for Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander
\nGen. Wiranto's campaign to expose the masterminds of the rioting,
\nand called on the people not to take the law into their own
\nhands.<\/p>\n
\"Actually I know the names of several (masterminds) but I
\ncannot reveal them here due to lack of legal evidence. I do not
\nwant to be sued over this,\" said Abdurrahman, who chairs the
\ncountry's largest Muslim organization, Nahdatul Ulama, in a media
\nbriefing held immediately after the session.<\/p>\n
\"I have asked General Wiranto about this. He is the one
\nholding the key to the identity of the crooks. Well, if the names
\nwere declared (here and now) it certainly would create unrest,\"
\nhe said, referring to a meeting he had with Wiranto and several
\nopposition leaders on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Wiranto said after the meeting that rioting in Ambon, which
\nkilled at least 50 people, had a similar pattern to other
\ncommunal clashes.<\/p>\n
The meeting also resulted in Wiranto's vow that ABRI would
\nstay neutral in the coming June elections. He cited allegations
\nthat recent riots were engineered to foil the elections and the
\nongoing investigation into former president Soeharto's wealth.<\/p>\n
\"The only obstacle for him (Wiranto) to point out the suspects
\nis lack of supporting evidence,\" Abdurrahman said.<\/p>\n
He said the group will continue to press the government to put
\nan end to violence and support the community's healing process.<\/p>\n
\"There is no way out of this except by being united. We, who
\ngather here, come from various religious backgrounds and ethnic
\ngroups (and yet have united),\" Abdurrahman said.<\/p>\n
Some of the participants came from Bali, Maluku and Nusa
\nTenggara.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman dismissed the suggestion that Monday's meeting was
\ndesigned to help further Wiranto's political agenda, but noted
\nthat ABRI did need the support of the whole community if security
\nis to be enforced effectively.<\/p>\n
\"Well, I'd say that his (Wiranto) meeting with us had been
\ncarefully discussed with his superior. I believe that none of us,
\nincluding Wiranto, were the ones behind the riots.<\/p>\n
\"But I do not know if there are culprits in the Armed Forces
\nor Soeharto's followers who are behind this ... it is an open
\npossibility,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman, who sat next to Jakarta Archbishop Julius
\nCardinal Darmaatmadja in the media briefing, and gestured to him
\nwhen making several points, noted that several places are likely
\nto be hit by riots.<\/p>\n
\"I've been informed by sources and the cardinal told me
\nhimself about these areas. However, I cannot reveal the sites as
\nit will only heat things up.\"<\/p>\n
\"We have to choose between retaliation or peace. I know it is
\nhard for those who were involved in the clashes to shake hands in
\ntruce just like that. But there is no other choice but to unite,\"
\nAbdurrahman said.<\/p>\n
Also attending the session were Catholic priests Mudji
\nSutrisno, scholar Y.B. Mangunwijaya, Hindu leaders Gedong Bagoes
\nOka and Ida Rsi Dvijawani, representatives of the Indonesian
\nBuddhist Community Bhikkhu Candakaro, and Muslim scholar Alwi
\nShihab.<\/p>\n
Most of those at the meeting at Abdurrahman's house displayed
\ngrave faces.<\/p>\n
Also attending were Frans Seda, and Indonesian Anti-
\nDiscrimination Movement (GANDI) representative Albertus Sugeng.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the Protestant Indonesian Communion of Churches
\n(PGI) Soelarso Sopater could not attend, but was represented by
\nsecretary general J.M. Pattiasina. (edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/religious-leaders-call-for-unity-and-solidarity-1447893297",
"image": ""
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