Army chief to attend mass prayer

Army chief to attend mass prayer

SURABAYA: Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu and
former president Abdurrahman Wahid are expected to attend a mass
prayer meeting organized by Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) in Surabaya,
East Java, next Sunday.

"According to NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi, foreign affairs
minister Hasan Wirayuda, religious affairs minister Said Aqil
Husein Almunawar, Army chief Ryamizard and several cabinet
ministers are planning to attend the prayer meeting," organizing
committee chairman Sholeh Hayat said in Surabaya, East Java, on
Tuesday.

NU, the country's largest Muslim organization, is organizing
the prayer meeting at the Brawijaya military headquarters on
Sunday. Over one million people, including foreign dignitaries
and leaders of other religions, are expected to attend the
gathering.

Sholeh said they had not invited President Megawati
Soekarnoputri, Vice President Hamzah Haz, House of
Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung or People's Consultative
Assembly Speaker Amien Rais, as the committee wanted to avoid
"the prayer meeting turing into a political gathering".

"The prayer is for the people, the nation and world peace.
It's not political," Sholeh said, adding that the committee had
invited the ministers in their private capacities.

NU claims to have some 40 million members. --JP