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)