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)