Moslems told to prevent unrest

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Council of Ulemas called on Indonesian Moslems as the majority population to help establish peace and national unity, and prevent social unrest.

In a statement issued at the conclusion of its three-day annual meeting Saturday, the council called on everybody to learn from the recent incidents of unrest across the country, and to exercise self-restraint.

"Please increase your awareness of those seeking to create havoc and bring disintegration," the council said in the statement delivered by chairman Hasan Basri.

The ulemas said that Moslems must strengthen internal unity if they are to help maintain national unity.

"Moslems need to understand one another, tolerate, care, and help each other," the statement said.

Over recent months Indonesia has been rocked by ethnic and religiously motivated violence that has led to scores of deaths and serious damages. In West Kalimantan, for example, the province witnessed more than two months of ethnic clashes that killed at least 300 people.

A number of deaths, scores of shops and businesses as well as places of worship have been burned or vandalized in several cities on Java and in the province of East Timor since October.

The ulemas conceded that social and economic gaps may have fueled the unrest, but that the discrepancies "should be seen proportionately while working to overcome them."

"We realize this is not easy and needs an integrated approach, cooperation, patience and commitment from both the government and community," Hasan Basri said. "This is why Islamic organizations should...help empower people's economic."

In another part of its statement, the council underlined the importance of a harmonious relation between Moslems and the government, including the Armed Forces (ABRI), as a component of national stability.

"This is why the current relations should be improved even further," Hasan said, adding that the ulemas are ready to help and be involved in the Alert Command Posts, recently set up across the country to detect and nip unrest in the bud.

The statement touched on other causes of concern for the ulemas, including the negative impacts of globalization, poor ethical behavior, violence and the abuse of power.

"We call on the public to shield themselves from these negative impacts and demand that the government enforce the law," Hasan said.

The council also expressed support for the Indonesian Foster Parents Movement and said that it would help collect zakat (obligatory alms giving) as well as shodaqoh and infaq (voluntary alms) for the drive.

In one of Saturday's sessions, the ulemas met with the movement's chairwoman, Halimah Bambang Trihatmodjo. The drive was established last year to help poor, handicapped, and isolated children complete their educations.

The program, set up to assist the government's 1994 compulsory nine-year education program, receives donation from groups and religious organizations as well as individuals who become foster parents by sponsoring a child's education.

Almost 200,000 children have been able to stay in school thanks to the drive. According to the Ministry of Social Services, almost 6 million children between seven and 15 years old are currently unable to go to school.

"The movement tries to help all children from poor families, regardless of their intelligence," she said.

Last year the council announced its plan to use zakat to help poor and bright children finish their educations.

"It's the responsibility of us all to help children pursue their educations. It's stipulated in the Holy Koran," Hasan said. (12)