Moslem forum holds thanksgiving ceremony

Moslem forum holds thanksgiving ceremony

JAKARTA (JP): Around 5,000 Moslem youths packed the Al Azhar
Grand Mosque in South Jakarta yesterday to commemorate the Moslem
community's contribution to the country's hard-fought battle for
independence 50 years ago.

The tasyakkur (thanksgiving) event was organized by the
Islamic Brotherhood Forum, which groups more than a dozen Moslem
organizations, along with the national committee for the 50th
anniversary of Indonesian independence, which is being led by
former minister for environment Emil Salim.

Female students in colorful veils and male students streamed
into the mosque by the dozens, many of whom had to stand outside
of the mosque due to a lack of space.

The congregation chanted Allahu Akbar (Allah is Great) and
said prayers in unison, led by prominent preachers in Jakarta,
including K.H. Chalil Ridwan, Hussein Umar, Abdul Rasjid A.S. and
Syuhada Bakri.

Most of the speakers reminded the young people that Moslems
played an important role during the struggle for independence,
and that the yells of the freedom fighters at the time included
Allahu Akbar.

The preachers are also members of the Indonesian Committee for
World Moslem Solidarity, which over the years has organized
massive rallies for various causes, including Bosnia-Herzegovina
and Palestine.

The organizers said that similar gatherings involving a great
number of people are being held simultaneously or will be held in
several major cities, including Padang.

"We wish to show the world that Indonesian Moslems are not a
bunch of violent people, we want to tell them that Islam is
actually a message of peace," according to preacher Ahmad
Sumargono who also helped organize the gathering.

"We call on the government to notice this, not to be afraid of
us," he said. "Islam is actually God's blessing for the entire
world, and that we, Moslems, are people of good conduct."

Chairman of the forum Anwar Harjono said in a written speech
delivered by activist A.M. Lutfi, that the golden anniversary of
the National Day in August also marks the increasingly improved
relations between Moslems and the power holders.

"For around 30 years, not only was Islam forced to stay on the
(political) sidelines, we were also the target of negative
accusations and suspicions," he said.

Faith and hard efforts helped changed the situation for the
better, he said. "Thank God, for the last four years the
political situation has gradually (improved). What we hoped for
has started to become a reality," he pointed out.

However, "we have to realize that the position we have been
occupying for the last 30 years cannot be changed within only 30
days," he said. "We need to persevere..in order to make it
through this transition, from standing on the sidelines to
standing center stage."

To those Moslem groups clamoring for a greater role in
society, Anwar reminded them that there's no magic way to change
reality.

He also warned against other groups in society who felt
threatened by Moslems' improved relations with the government.
"Those people see the revival of Islam as something scary," he
said.

"I'd like to tell them that there's nothing to be frightened
of," he said. "Moslems only want to be on equal footing with
other groups in society...Islam does not teach its followers to
be hostile toward other people."

The gathering yesterday also called on the government to mark
the nation's golden anniversary by honoring several Moslem
leaders. They are K.H. Nur Ali, who led freedom fighters in
Bekasi; K.H. Sholeh Iskandar, who fought in Bogor and Banten; and
the republic's first attorney general and Muhammadiyah leader
Kasman Singodimedjo.

The organizers also called for awards to be given to Sjafrudin
Prawiranegara, president of the emergency government when
president Sukarno and other leaders were detained as the
revolutionary capital city, Yogyakarta, was occupied by the Dutch
troops, in 1948, and Mohammad Natsir, the fist prime minister of
the unitary state of Indonesia.

The call for such honors has received wide support from
numerous Moslem leaders, including Amien Rais, the newly re-
elected chairman of Muhammadiyah reformist movement, and Mustofa
Bisri of the rural-based, 30 million-strong Nahdlatul Ulama
organization. (swe)