70,000 people attend emotional service

70,000 people attend emotional service

SEMARANG (JP): Seventy thousand people from all five
recognized religions attended an emotional service here yesterday
to pray for the nation's survival amid the economic turmoil.

Moslems, Christians, Protestants, Buddhists and Hindus,
accompanied by their respective religious leaders, flocked to the
Diponegoro Regional Military Command's parade ground for this
rare event.

Visiting Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces
Commander Gen. Wiranto and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Subagyo H.S.
also attended.

During the one-hour gathering, the devotees asked for help to
swiftly lift the ailing country out of the ongoing economic
crisis.

The country has been hit by a severe crisis since last July
following the drastic depreciation of the rupiah against the
American dollar.

The service were led by noted Moslem leader Cholil Bisri from
the Raudhatul Thalibien Islamic boarding school in Rembang,
Central Java.

Cholil, who is also one of the leaders of the 30 million
strong Nahdlatul Ulama Moslem organization, said in his message
that people from different ethnicities and religions should unite
to face this prolonged ordeal.

"After this service, we should throw away our suspicions and
unite to weather this economic hardship," Cholil said.

Wiranto called on the public yesterday to support and trust
the government to implement the necessary steps to guide the
nation through the crisis. (har/byg)