Confucians told to do more social work

Confucians told to do more social work

SURABAYA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid has called on
Chinese-Indonesians and Confucians to play an active role in
social welfare through various programs.

Speaking at a celebration for the Lunar New Year at the Hyatt
Regency Surabaya on Saturday, the President said that with their
(financial) superiority, Confucians and Chinese-Indonesians could
pay more attention to people's welfare.

At least 1,200 followers of Confucianism attended the
ceremony. The President also attended a similar event in Jakarta
on Thursday.

He said that Indonesia still faced abundant social problems,
which deserved attention from all layers of society. He cited the
lack of education and infant mortality rates as examples of
lingering social problems.

"All the social problems need our care."

Abdurrahman's entourage included his wife Mrs. Shinta Nuriana
Wahid, their daughter Yeni and Minister of Home Affairs Surjadi
Soedirdja, who is also coordinating minister for political
affairs and security.

East Java Governor Imam Utomo, Mayor Sunarto and other
provincial dignitaries were also at hand.

Minister Surjadi received Rp 1 billion from the East Java
Confucian community. The money is to be used for those suffering
from a series of clashes in Maluku and other areas.

The President also stressed that differences among Indonesians
must not be exaggerated. Indonesians had their our own way of
thinking and way of life, "But that does not mean we must fight
with each other."

"Differences must enrich our attempts to make life in the
nation better. There must be difference among the people, and the
difference can be a blessing," he said. "The more we differ the
clearer our unity will be."

He said he had long been acquainted with the chairman of the
Indonesian Confucian community in East Java, Bingki Irawan.
"There has been differences, but we are one. I have never
considered Bingki anything but Indonesian."

Confucians in Indonesia, especially in East Java, had high
respect for others, he said, citing how the Chinese had adapted
their food to suit Indonesian tastes. He said he particularly
enjoyed a Chinese dish called lontong cap gomeh, which is very
popular among East Javanese. "As a member of a kyai family I
enjoy the dish. This is a simple statement but has deep meaning."

Humor

Abdurrahman, reputed for his sense of humor, spiced his speech
with jokes and local legends. In one joke in which Confucius had
abundant followers in the world, President Abdurrahman said that
Neil Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the moon in his
Apollo 11, was surprised upon seeing two men already on the moon.
"The first was a Confucian and the second was an Indonesian," he
said. "When asked how they arrived on the moon, the Confucian
said his friends had lifted him up shoulder-to-shoulder, while
the Indonesian said the pile of papers he collected from various
seminars enabled him to reach the moon."

The audience burst into laughter.

President Abdurrahman has given new confidence to Confucians
in Indonesia after taking over from the New Order regime, which
curbed all their activities for decades.

The New Order government officially acknowledged only five
religions, and excluded Confucianism.

Last Thursday in Jakarta the President said the government had
been wrong to acknowledge only a handful of religions. It was not
the government's concern to judge if a teaching was a religion or
not, he said.

"There is a question of whether Confucianism is a religion or
the philosophy of life. For me a religion is a religion when its
followers are sure of its truth. Even without the government's
acknowledgement the religion still exist," the President said.

As he did when attending the celebration in Jakarta, the
President seemed to enjoy the Chinese art performances in
Surabaya.

Clad in a brown batik shirt, the President left the hotel at
about 2 p.m. for Dr. Soetomo General Hospital to see his close
friend KH. Imron Hamzah, who has been in hospital for two months
due to heart failure. The visit was not officially scheduled.
(nur/sur)