RI to send peace mission to Canberra, EU<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Amid the mounting tension between the United States and Iraq,
\nIndonesian religious leaders and national figures have agreed to
\nmake a series of foreign trips to Australia and Europe, including
\nthe Vatican, to campaign for world peace and to seek support for
\nthe increasing opposition to the United States' planned attack on
\nIraq.<\/p>\n
Hasyim Muzadi, chairman of Indonesia's largest Muslim
\norganization Nadhlatul Ulama, will lead an Indonesian delegation
\nto Australia from Feb. 9 through to Feb. 17. and Muslim
\nintellectual Nurcholish Madjid will lead a similar mission to
\nEurope from Feb. 17 to Feb. 25.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a joint press conference here on Wednesday, the
\nreligious leaders and national figures also insisted that the
\ntension had nothing to do with religious matters but was
\ntriggered by their own conflicting interests.<\/p>\n
Hasyim said he and his group would meet with the relevant
\nauthorities in Canberra and NGOs to convey Indonesia's opposition
\nto the war.<\/p>\n
Cardinal Julius Darmaatmadja, chairman of the Indonesian
\nBishop's Conference (KWI), said the foreign peace mission was
\naimed at showing the world that Indonesia is fighting for a world
\nof peace and opposes the U.S.' planned attack on Iraq.<\/p>\n
\"Since the beginning, Pope John Paul has disagreed with the
\nplanned attack on Iraq and so have we because war is against
\nhumanity and morality.<\/p>\n
\"And our trip to these countries should not be seen merely as
\nour concern for world peace, but it will be the Asian people's
\nvoice against the war,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Also present at the press conference held at Nahdhatul Ulama
\n(NU) headquarters in Central Jakarta were Nurcholish, A.A.
\nYewangoe representing the Communion of Indonesian Churches (PGI)
\nand national figure Roeslan Abdulgani and Hasyim Muzadi.
\nMuhammadyah chairman Ahmad Sjafii Maarif was absent due to an
\ninternal meeting of the organization.<\/p>\n
Following a meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair,
\nPresident George W. Bush gave weeks, instead on months, to
\nPresident Saddam Hussein to prove that the latter had no weapons
\nof mass destruction and was not linked to the Osama bin Laden-led
\nterrorist network al-Qaeda.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has opposed any attack on Iraq without UN approval.
\nIt is also prepared to face the worst at home as a result of the
\nIraq attack.<\/p>\n
Mgr. Julius would lead a delegation to meet with Pope John
\nPaul II.<\/p>\n
Nurcholish said he and his group would visit the European
\nParliament in Brussels to convey Indonesia's stance on the
\nconflict.<\/p>\n
\"We will speak to the European Union about the possible impact
\nof the U.S. attack on world peace and stability. The European
\nUnion should constitute a new power to balance U.S.' as
\nsuperpower,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-to-send-peace-mission-to-canberra-eu-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}