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)