Megawati donates Rp 1b to Christian center
Megawati donates Rp 1b to Christian center
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra
President Megawati Soekarnoputri donated Rp 1 billion on
Wednesday to fund the building of the Nomensen Christian Centre
in North Tapanuli regency, North Sumatra, during her visit to
launch the project.
And, Minister of State Enterprises Laksamana Sukardi
symbolically handed over 40 tractors in assistance to local
farmers, while Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
Rokhimin Dahuri gave one million "Batak" fish for breeding in
Lake Toba.
The donations were presented to North Tapanuli Regent R.E.
Nainggolan and Simalungun Regent Jhon Hugo Silalahi during a
special ceremony.
For health reasons, Megawati did not speak herself, though she
led the inauguration ceremony for the construction of the center,
along with her husband, Taufik Kiemas.
Also present were Minister of Forestry M. Prakosa and a number
of legislators, including Sabam Sirait and Mangara Siahaan, as
well as thousands of local people.
In her address, which was read out by Minister of Religious
Affairs Said Agil Hussein Al-Munawwar, the President said the Rp
1 billion donation fund for the Nomensen Christian Centre
development had been collected from Cabinet members.
"The government hopes the center will be able to serve as a
facility to help achieve development progress in this region,"
she told the ceremony at Sipoholon village, North Tapanuli.
Megawati called on the people of North Sumatra, a
predominantly Christian province, to mutually respect religious
freedom and continue to maintain brotherhood amid heterogeneity.
Meanwhile, Batak Protestant Church (HKBP) leader Rev. J.R.
Hutauruk told the same event that the people of North Tapanuli
had collected Rp 250 million in humanitarian assistance for
Muslims suffering the brunt of the ongoing military operation in
the war-torn province of Aceh.
"These were spontaneous donations from residents here to show
our concern for our brothers in Aceh. We hope peace will return
to Aceh soon," he said, adding that the money would be sent to
the province immediately.