Moslems must shed tag of blame

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)