Gus Dur slams abuse of religion by certain groups

Gus Dur slams abuse of religion by certain groups

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid renewed his warning
to the nation on Monday of provocation by certain people who
abuse Islamic symbols and spirit for their own interests.

In his address after inspecting the implementation of social
safety net programs for the poor in Suka Darma subdistrict,
Bekasi regency in West Java, the President said true Islamic
defenders were those who sincerely worked to improve people's
welfare and prosperity.

"Now there are people, who just because they wear robes, use
swords and wear turbans, claim themselves as religion (Islam)
defenders. In fact they are not defenders at all," said
Abdurrahman, who is also known as Gus Dur.

"Those who claim to defend the religion by carrying swords,
actually do not know much about the religious teachings."

The President was apparently referring to members of the
Defenders of Islam (FPI) who held a heated meeting with him early
last month at his official residence of Merdeka Palace.

The President asked them to leave the palace just five minutes
after their discussion on Maluku. The FPI leaders at that time
pledged to travel to the islands to stage a jihad.

Maluku and North Maluku have been wracked by sectarian
clashes. The latest conflict in Maluku resulted in the deaths of
at least six people on Sunday when security personnel opened fire
to disperse warring crowds in the same area in Ambon where 15
months of sectarian riots began to rock the islands in January
last year.

Order was restored in Ambon on Tuesday as security authorities
carried out a sweep of weapons. Pattimura Military Commander
Brig. Gen. Max Tamaela said the military confiscated homemade
weapons which included six rifles, five pistols, one bazooka and
five bombs. Also seized were 15 .9 caliber bullets, 18 arrows and
two machetes.

On Thursday FPI again attracted public attention for their
alleged involvement in an attack on a karaoke bar in Ciputat,
South Jakarta. According to Jakarta Police spokesman Lt. Col.
Zainuri Lubis, about 135 FPI members were involved in planning
the assault.

The ceremony on Monday was held at the Al Ittihadiyah Islamic
School, in which the President heard reports about the latest
development of the internationally financed program from National
Logistics Agency (Bulog) head Rizal Ramli.

The President thanked the international community and world
organizations for providing special funds to enable the
government to sell cheap rice to people who have fallen victim to
the prolonged economic crisis.

He vowed that Indonesia in its turn could help other needy
nations as soon as its economic crisis was completely addressed.

"Without their help will not be able to overcome our problems.
Insya Allah (God willing), we will also be able to help other
nations," the President said.

In his report to the President, Rizal said the agency sold the
rice for Rp 1,000 per kilogram to the poor, less than half the
market price.

For the 2000 fiscal year, which lasts from April to December,
Bulog will distribute about 1.5 millions tons of rice across the
country. Last year the government allocated 2.56 tons of cheap
rice, Rizal noted.

"Bulog's market operation is aimed at reaching 10.5 million
families in 45,000 selling points throughout the country," said
Rizal.

The implementation of the program has sparked criticism from
various parties, as well as the World Bank. Many irregularities
have been reported by both the media and non-governmental
organizations.

After a suspension since May last year, the World Bank
disbursed in January US$300 million of the blocked $600 million
package destined for the country's social safety net programs.

Returning to the capital later in the day, Abdurrahman failed
to preside over a Cabinet meeting on economic affairs, as
Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Finance and Industry Kwik
Kian Gie and the minister of finance did not show up at Bina
Graha presidential office.

Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri left the office 10
minutes later. Other ministers, including Minister of Forestry
and Plantations Nur Mahmudi Ismail, held a separate meeting with
the President.

According to Mahmudi, the meeting was initially aimed at
discussing the latest developments in the negotiations between
the government and a review team from the International Monetary
Fund (IMF).

"However, the two ministers are still negotiating the letter
of intent to the IMF," Mahmudi said when asked about the reason
for canceling the planned meeting. (49/prb)