Bishop calls on Amien

Bishop calls on Amien

YOGYAKARTA (JP): The Archbishop of Semarang, Suharyo, paid a
rare courtesy call on Amien Rais, leader of the 28-million-strong
Moslem organization Muhammadiyah, here yesterday.

Both Suharyo and Amien declined to go into the details of what
they discussed. They only said the visit was aimed at
strengthening relations between the religious leaders.

Observers here noted that the meeting was the first of its
kind in the last 32 years.

"This call was extraordinary because so far discussions on
religious harmony have involved scholars, not leaders," Amien
said after the meeting.

Suharyo said he also represented Jakarta-based Julius Cardinal
Darmaatmadja to promote relations with Muhammadiyah.

"We hope that in the future we can cooperate in human resource
development," Suharyo added.

During the one-hour meeting yesterday, Suharyo was accompanied
by the secretary of the Diocese of Semarang, Suryoprawoto, and
his Yogyakarta assistant Djojosewojo.

Amien was accompanied by a number of leading Muhammadiyah
figures, included Ahmad Syafii Maarif and Muchlas Abror.

Amien said he planned a return visit to the Catholic leader.

Suharyo refused to answer journalists' questions on State
Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie's vice
presidential nomination.

In December, Archbishop Darmaatmadja met with the leader of
the 30-million-strong Nahdlatul Ulama, Abdurrahman Wahid, at the
latter's home in Ciganjur, South Jakarta.

Along with other religious leaders and intellectuals, they
have called for solidarity to help the nation cope with the
crisis that has plagued the country for the past seven months.
(23/byg)