NU members call for peace, unity

NU members call for peace, unity

JAKARTA (JP): Tens of thousands of supporters of beleaguered
President Abdurrahman Wahid gathered here on Sunday for a mass
prayer, with many voices raised in calls for peace and unity.

The prayer, organized by Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the Muslim
organization formally chaired by Abdurrahman, is seen by many as
a last-ditch effort by the President to demonstrate to the public
and the House of Representatives that he still wields great power
and influence.

The mass prayer, which was marred by a small explosion, came
just one day before the House is expected to issue a second
censure against the President.

The gathering of the President's supporters, including die-
hard loyalists who have said they will occupy the House complex
on Monday when the legislature meets to decide on the issuance of
a second censure, did not prevent hundreds of people from the
Sunday morning tradition of jogging or walking around the Bung
Karno sports complex.

The mass prayer was a largely peaceful affair, though a small
blast slightly injured seven people.

Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Mulyono Sulaiman said the
blast originated from a plastic bag containing three small
bottles filled with a "a chemical substance" designed to explode
in high temperatures.

Addressing the gathering, President Abdurrahman, who chaired
NU for 15 years before being elected president in 1999, again
called on his supporters to avoid violence.

"We come here for goodness, not to cause harm. Hopefully,
there will be improvements in this country," the President said.

"You must not do anything that will be disadvantageous to us
all ... do not damage the property of any organization, either
Muslim organizations or non-Muslim organizations, because anyone
who has faith is our brother."

Abdurrahman told those in attendance not to be provoked into
acts of violence, and to return to their hometowns following the
mass prayer and monitor the House plenary session on Monday from
a distance.

Traffic backed up outside the stadium as thousands of people
were unable to enter the venue when police officers and NU
security guards closed the entrance gates as soon as the prayer
began.

NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi instructed those taking part in the
event to return to their homes as soon as the prayer ended.

"There must be no violence here and all NU members must follow
the instructions of their ulema," Hasyim said.

He stressed that NU must not become part of the country's
problems, and should pray for the poor, the nation's leaders and
those people responsible for causing harm to the country.

"We are telling all NU members not to disturb the House
plenary session tomorrow (Monday) ... just observe the political
event from a distance. We cannot allow the people to fight each
other as has been happening in the country because of the evil
actions of people here in the capital," he said.

The prayer ended with a demonstration of "invisible power" by
a group of prayer participants, who seemed to create an eddy that
blew some trash around.

Speaking after the gathering, Minister of Defense Mahfud MD
said the mass prayer was not an attempt to influence the House
plenary session on Monday.

"I hope the (House) legislators will realize that groups which
have different ideas and opinions about political issues have
many supporters here," Mahfud said.

Commenting on the absence of a number of political leaders,
Mahfud said: "They are probably afraid the event will be
politicized. But for me, there is no reason to skip an invitation
for religious worship."

Police officers, assisted by members of the NU security task
force Banser, checked prayer participants for weapons as they
entered the venue. Military soldiers and police officers were
also deployed inside and outside the stadium to prevent any
disturbances, and five police armored vehicles were parked
nearby.

Seated on the podium with Abdurrahman and his wife Sinta
Nuriyah were Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso, Minister of Foreign
Affairs Alwi Shihab and National Awakening Party (PKB) chairman
Matori Abdul Djalil.

Also in attendance were the commander of Abdurrahman's "ready-
to-die force", Nuril Arifin Husein, and Sukmawati Soekarnoputri,
the younger sister of Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri. Meanwhile,
neglecting calls from their leaders, many of NU followers
participating in Sunday's prayer decided to stay in the city
longer.

Some of those who wished to stay said they would like to watch
over the House of Representatives plenary session on Monday which
almost likely will result in a second memorandum of censure
against the President.

Other NU followers, mostly from East Java and Central Java,
said they would have a sight-seeing across the city as they
rarely visited the capital.

"Some of my friends would visit ulemas' graves and tourist
destinations here. It's a rare opportunity for us to come here,"
Habib Cholid Makarim, a group leader from Jombang, East Java, was
quoted by Antara as saying.

Jombang is the hometown of Abdurrahman, who once chaired the
country's largest Muslim organization.

Makarim, who also chairs the Jombang branch of National
Awakening Party (PKB), said he could not force his friends to
return home.

He said that of 500 men in his group, 300 would stay at Wisma
PHI in Cempaka Putih, Central Jakarta, until Monday, while the
remaining had left Jakarta for home.

Some NU supporters who booked rooms in Hotel Djody on Jl.
Jaksa, Central Jakarta also decided to stay at least until
Monday. (02/dja/jun)