Minister Tarmizi Taher discharged from hospital

Minister Tarmizi Taher discharged from hospital

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher was
discharged from the Gatot Subroto Military Hospital yesterday
after a ten-day hospitalization.

Yusuf Ahmad, the ministry's head of general affairs bureau
told The Jakarta Post that the minister was "exhausted" after a
number of lengthy overseas and domestic trips.

Among the countries he visited in the past few months was
the Vatican. There he met and discussed with the Catholic leaders
the question of East Timor's diocese, and the recent religious
tensions in the predominantly Roman Catholic province.

Tarmizi left for his four-day visit to the Vatican on Oct.26.,
from where he went to Saudi Arabia to join President Soeharto's
entourage performing umrah, a minor pilgrimage.

He then flew to Hong Kong, where he was treated for more than
ten days in the Queen Elizabeth hospital.

Minister/Cabinet Secretary Saadillah Mursjid was the acting
Minister of Religious Affairs during Tarmizi's absence.

Tarmizi, a medical doctor by training, is scheduled to open
the blood donor program at the ministry on Monday. The program
was part of 34 other activities to mark the 50th anniversary of
the ministry.

Chairman of the organizing committee, Agustiar, told reporters
in a press conference yesterday that the ministry will hold a 6-
month celebration. A budget of about Rp 50 million (US$22,000)
has been set aside for the festivities.

The planned programs include wedding ceremonies for a number
of poor people, and free telephone counseling service. The latter
program is prepared in cooperation with the state-owned
telecommunication company PT Telkom.

Another item is an international seminar on religious harmony.
Experts from the Holy See, the Middle East and ASEAN countries
will participate in the event.

The ministry will also publish books its recent history. (01)