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)