Moslem solidarity for Bosnia, Chechnya

JAKARTA (JP): The Al Azhar Grand Mosque in South Jakarta was overwhelmed once again yesterday by thousands of Moslems demonstrating solidarity with their brethren in the war-torn areas of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Chechnya.

An estimated 5,000 people turned out to join in a mass prayer to end the suffering of Bosnian Moslems, while leading preachers, with their sermons, took turns firing up the congregation against the Serbian aggressors.

Men repeatedly shouted Allahu Akbar (Allah is Great) while women in veils wept openly as the preachers and a visiting Bosnian Moslem leader, Ensar Eminovic, described the ongoing war atrocities in the ex-Yugoslavian state.

Several Moslem leaders, including Amien Rais and Anwar Harjono, blamed the Western world, United Nations and other international bodies for their foot-dragging attitude toward the Bosnian issue, which has protracted the regional conflicts.

"I believe those Western leaders won't be satisfied until they see all Moslems wiped off the face of Europe," said Anwar, chairman of the Council for Islamic Propagation as well as a leader in the influential Indonesian Council of Ulemas.

"We call on the government to sever all ties with Belgrad," said Amien, who is also the newly-elected chairman of the 28- million-strong Muhammadiyah Moslem reformist organization. "There are no economic and political risks for such a decision to be taken."

The participants at the gathering also collected money and handed some Rp 20 million (US$8,950) to Eminovic, who is here to collect financial contributions for Bosnia.

Abdul Rasjidi Abdullah Syafii, a famous Jakartan preacher, spread out a turban on the mosque's floor and the Moslems jostled to throw in money to "help the Bosnian Moslems buy weapons".

Wiping tears from their faces, the women also donated money and other valuables, including jewelry, for the cause.

Organized by a number of Moslem organizations, including the Indonesian Committee for World Moslem Solidarity, the gathering was similar to a number of previous ones held in various major cities.

At least two grand mosques in Jakarta, Al Azhar and Istiqlal, have for the last three years been the venues for thousands of Moslems to show solidarity for the Moslems suffering in Bosnia, Chechnya, and Palestine.

The speeches yesterday mainly focused on the need to pressure the United Nations to lift the arms embargo on Bosnia so that the Moslem-dominated territory can defend itself.

Amien Rais, an expert on international relations, also urged the government to close down the embassy of Yugoslavia in Jakarta.

"This embassy represents 'the big boss' Slobodan Milosevic, the big butcher of Bosnian Moslems," Amien said, referring to the Serbian leader.

Anwar said it's high time for Indonesia to stop sending only "humanitarian assistance" in the form of money and medication and to start sending assistance for the Bosnians to arm themselves.

"Remember, we'll do anything to help our Bosnian brothers," Anwar said.

Eminovic used the occasion to remind the Moslems of ethnic cleansing in Bosnia-Herzegovina which has reduced the 70 percent Moslem population in the East Bosnia to a mere 15 percent.

"Let me tell you, however, Bosnia won't be a second Palestine," Eminovic said. "We're there to fight and survive."

The gathering was attended also by Walid Sasani, an envoy of Chechnya in town to garner similar support for his country which is now at war with Russia.

Sasani expressed his optimism that resolutions to the conflict would soon be reached. "God willing, Chechnya's sovereignty will soon be restored," he said. Russia "may now win, but Allah's wrath will soon fall upon them."

Sasani will also tour other Moslem-majority countries, including Malaysia, Pakistan and Egypt. (swe)