Religious leaders join force for reform<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Religious leaders in Yogyakarta and Surabaya,
\nEast Java, urged the government to meet demands for political and
\neconomic reform, warning that public patience was boiling over.<\/p>\n
A number of religious leaders from the Religious Leaders
\nCommunications Forum (FKUB) in Yogyakarta, warned the government
\nthat the incessant students rallies demonstrated that the
\npeople's patience had reached its climax.<\/p>\n
\"We demand that the government stop its repressive actions
\nagainst the students,\" Abdul Muhaimin, who represented local
\nIslamic ulemas at a joint meeting with religious leaders of other
\nreligions in Yogyakarta yesterday, said.<\/p>\n
I Nyoman Sudarsana, representing Hindu ulema, said the
\ngovernment had no other alternative but to launch total political
\nreform to get the nation out of the crisis.<\/p>\n
He also said that the government had to give protection for
\nall citizens, including student activists who were involved in
\nthe campus rallies.<\/p>\n
\"We regret immoral actions the government has taken in
\nhandling students rallies and protests, while most people who are
\nfacing economic hardship because of the prolonged economic crisis
\nstill fear further abductions,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The religious leaders also said in their joint statement that
\nthe government had to find activists who were still missing and
\nreturn them safely to their families.<\/p>\n
Also attending the meeting were Rev. Bambang S. of the
\nProtestant Church and Rev. Suyatno of the Catholic Church.<\/p>\n
Separately, some religious leaders in Surabaya also called on
\nthe people to give their support to the student movement.<\/p>\n
They said in a joint statement that the proreform movement
\nshould win support from all groups in all layers of the society.<\/p>\n
Rev. Sandyawan of the Catholic Church said that leaders of all
\nreligions in the province should take concrete action by
\npersuading their congregation to fully support the students.<\/p>\n
Mustofi Bisir, representing Moslem ulema in the city, called
\non all government officials who have committed many sins, to
\nconvert and ask Allah's mercy for their sinful deeds.<\/p>\n
Gedeng Bagus Oka representing Hindu priests expressed his deep
\nconcern over the inadequate performance of the 32-year-old New
\nOrder government.<\/p>\n
On Monday, more than 250 Islamic ulemas assembled in the city
\nand decided to send a special delegation to meet President
\nSoeharto to eradicate the allegedly rampant corruption, collusion
\nand nepotism. (nur\/23\/rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/religious-leaders-join-force-for-reform-1447893297",
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