Gus Dur, Amien Rais pray for Acehnese

Gus Dur, Amien Rais pray for Acehnese

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Muslim leaders Abdurrahman Wahid and
Amien Rais joined thousands of Acehnese here on Wednesday to pray
for people in the restive province.

Abdurrahman, better known as Gus Dur, chairman of the
country's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama, and
National Mandate Party head Amien broke into tears during the
istighotsah mass prayer at Baiturrahman Grand Mosque.

Both men were presented with a five-meter-long banner bearing
the inscription "Referendum", reflecting the demand of Acehnese
who suffered during an almost 10-year military operation to stamp
out separatists.

The two men flew in from Jakarta to a warm reception by
thousands.

The prayer was organized by local Muslim leaders who held a
meeting on Monday and Tuesday to discuss their plan to introduce
sharia, or Islamic law, in the province.

The meeting was held at Syiah Kuala, some six kilometers from
Banda Aceh.

The meeting recommended the local administration incorporate
Islamic values and legal principles in formulating policies on
human rights.

"The two (Abdurrahman and Amien) strongly supported the
implementation of Islamic law in Aceh," said Tengku Mukhtar
Wahab, a local ulema.

The meeting set out to find ways to restore peace and order in
Aceh, which has suffered a heavy toll from clashes between locals
and the military.

Many Acehnese are outraged at the authorities' failure to
bring to justice the perpetrators of atrocities committed against
civilians during the military operation.

Although the operation was officially terminated in August
last year, it has been followed by more violence.

The government estimates that 1,021 people died and 864 went
missing during the operation which began in 1989. It says 1,376
women were widowed.

Abdurrahman and Amien took part in mass afternoon prayers
later Wednesday.

Acehnese students distributed referendum stickers showing a
picture of the national red-and-white flag and a crescent-star
symbol.

The visit of the two Muslim leaders also held political
significance.

The men have been at odds in the past due to Abdurrahman's
traditionalist Nahdlatul Ulama and the modernist Muhammadiyah
organization which Amien headed until he took up a political
career last year.

The two leaders have warmed to each other recently, with
Amien's PAN pushing the nomination of Abdurrahman for president
in the November election.

Abdurrahman's most recent visit to Aceh in June was marred by
a hostile demonstration protesting his statement that the
Acehnese should drop their demand for a referendum. (edt/51)