Religious leaders support RI stand on abortion in Cairo<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The leaders of Indonesia's Moslem and Roman
\nCatholic communities threw their support behind the government's
\nfight against abortion as a means of population control
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) and the Bishops'
\nConference of Indonesia (KWI) said in separate statements that
\nthey wholly support the government's stance for the upcoming
\ninternational conference on population and development in Cairo
\nwhich kicks off on Monday.<\/p>\n
The statements were sent to State Minister of Population
\nHaryono Suyono who will be leading the Indonesian delegation to
\nCairo. Copies were made available to the press yesterday.<\/p>\n
Haryono said Indonesia will be fighting against the inclusion
\nof abortion as a means of population control, something which a
\nnumber of Western countries are pushing onto the Cairo agenda.<\/p>\n
A number of Moslem countries, notably Saudi Arabia, are
\nboycotting the UN conference. The Vatican, which is also opposing
\nthe use of abortion to control population, has joined forces with
\nMoslem countries ahead of the Cairo meeting.<\/p>\n
\"We hope the minister can convey and fight for the aspirations
\nof the Islamic community in Indonesia at the conference,\" the MUI
\nstatement said. \"We hope that the Indonesian delegation will
\nreject the legalization of anything which goes against the norms
\nwe have adopted.\"<\/p>\n
The MUI statement, signed by chairman Hasan Basri and
\nSecretary General Prodjokusumo, welcomed the government's
\nreiteration that Indonesia will never legalize marriage between
\npeople of the same sexes, something which will also be included
\nin the Cairo agenda.<\/p>\n
The KWI also urged the Indonesian delegation in its statement
\nto use its influence at the Cairo meeting. It cited the fact that
\nmany countries in the world respect Indonesia as a family
\nplanning role model.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia's voice will be heard,\" KWI said.<\/p>\n
\"We fully support and encourage the Indonesian delegation to
\nfight and pray that it will succeed,\" said the statement signed
\nby Monseigneur Julius Darmaatmadja, the head of the KWI
\nPresidium.<\/p>\n
Haryono said yesterday that he had received telex messages
\nfrom five countries urging Indonesia not to withdraw from the
\nconference and fight for the cause in Cairo.<\/p>\n
\"Host Egypt has also asked Indonesia to attend although a
\nnumber of countries are withdrawing,\" he said. (emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/religious-leaders-support-ri-stand-on-abortion-in-cairo-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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