Haj controversy incited by third party: Minister

Haj controversy incited by third party: Minister

JAKARTA (JP): The controversy surrounding the haj pilgrimage,
which at one time threatened to became a diplomatic row between
Indonesia and Saudi Arabia, was started by irresponsible people
bent on disrupting the entire operation.

Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher disclosed on
Saturday that the confusion about the pilgrimage was sown by
certain people to create disturbances.

Tarmizi declined to go into specifics.

He made the startling disclosure as he saw off the last of the
358 flights carrying Indonesian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia leaving
Halim Perdanakusuma airport on Saturday.

A record 164,993 Indonesians are taking part in the Islamic
pilgrimage, well above the 160,000 quota allocated by the Saudi
authorities. But everyone was assured entry.

The pilgrimage operation became a major source of controversy
two weeks ago when the minister announced that the Saudi
government was rounding up Indonesian pilgrims who did not travel
on the brown passports officially issued for the pilgrimage.

Tarmizi then insisted that he had information from the
Indonesian consulate in Jeddah which in turn said it received the
notification from the Saudi authorities.

The assertion was quickly denied by the Saudi ambassador to
Indonesia Abdullah A. Alim who said that as a matter of policy,
everybody wishing to perform the holy pilgrimage will be welcome
in his country.

Saudi ambassador

Ambassador Abdullah, who was present at the ceremony to see
off the last plane, reiterated the position. "Our government
never refused any guest of Allah. The news about it (the arrests)
was absolutely wrong," he said.

Among the 480 pilgrims leaving on the last plane was Minister
of Information Harmoko, who is also the Amirul Haj or the chief
of the Indonesian delegation, Minister of Agriculture Sjarifudin
Baharsjah, and chairman of Indonesia's Ulama Board Hasan Basri.

Other high ranking officials joining the pilgrimage this year
include Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro,
Minister of Social Services Endang Kusuma Inten Suweno, Armed
Forces (ABRI) Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung, Air Force Chief Air
Marshal Rilo Pambudi and West Java Governor R. Nuriana.

According to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, 4,930 of this
year's pilgrims are traveling on ordinary green passports.

They include Indonesians studying abroad, but many are also
making their private arrangements from Indonesia to avoid paying
the Rp 6.9 million charged by the government-sponsored tour.

Tarmizi said Indonesia will apply for a higher quota for next
year's pilgrimage given the increasing enthusiasm shown by the
public. Last year, some 124,000 made the pilgrimage, then a
record number.

The worst is not over yet for the government since it still
has to bring back the pilgrims in another major operation which
will begin on May 25. The government has deployed 19 planes for
the entire haj operation.

Tarmizi's office announced on Saturday that Idul Adha, or the
Moslem sacrifice day which also marks the peak of the haj
pilgrimage, falls on May 21.

The date, which is set based on the sighting of the new moon,
also coincides with the Idul Adha day in Saudi Arabia, promising
that the Day of Sacrifice this year will be marked in unison
throughout Indonesia. (yns/emb)