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)