Moslems must shed tag of blame

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Council of Ulemas will begin the much-publicized "largest" gathering of Moslem leaders on Tuesday morning as they aim to hammer home the message that Moslems should no longer be blamed for just about all conflicts in society.

Council secretary-general Nazri Adlani said here on Monday that Moslems should no longer be the object of political developments, much less be "fooled" by various parties.

The congress will be opened by Minister of Religious Affairs Malik Fajar at the Istiqlal Grand Mosque on Tuesday. Around 1,000 people, including ulemas, public figures and the leaders of 60 Islamic organizations and 200 Islamic schools and universities will participate in the congress.

Abdurrahman Wahid, the leader of the country's largest Islamic organization Nahdatul Ulama (NU), Amien Rais, the leader of the National Mandate Party (PAN), noted Islamic scholar Nurcholish Madjid and Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto are among those scheduled to address the congress.

"Islamic party leaders are all invited, not as representatives of their parties but as individuals," Nazri said, underlining that the congress has no political agenda.

"This is a moral movement, not a political movement," added Amiddan, the chairman of the congress organizing committee.

Meanwhile, another gathering of Moslems from Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi is to be held on Thursday at Senayan sports stadium in South Jakarta. The event is being organized by the Ulemas Forum chaired by Abdul Rasyid Abdullah Syafi'e.

Around 150,000 people are expected to attend the gathering and pray for divine help to assist Indonesia's political and economic recovery. (01)