President calls for tolerance

By Ahmad Junaidi and Ainur R. Sophiaan

SURABAYA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid opened the first congress of the National Awakening Party (PKB) here on Sunday, stressing the need for religious tolerance and an antiviolence campaign.

"PKB's theme song was composed by Alfred Simanjuntak, a non- Muslim. It shows that Muslims and non-Muslims can live together and help one another," Abdurrahman said in front of at least 25,000 supporters of the party at the Tambaksari soccer stadium.

Like PKB, the country's second largest Muslim organization Muhammadiyah has a theme song composed by a non-Muslim, Abdurrahman said.

"Islam loves everyone, Muslim and non-Muslim. Islam can protect both of them," he said in the opening ceremony which was attended by several Cabinet ministers, foreign ambassadors and House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung.

But the ceremony was marred when Akbar, who was invited in his capacity as Golkar Party chairman, was jeered by some PKB supporters.

Akbar is having difficulty with PKB legislators, who are accusing him of corruption during the time he served as the state minister of public housing between 1993 and 1998. Akbar has denied the charges.

The incident occurred when PKB chairman Matori Abdul Djalil was delivering his speech, in which he condemned the New Order regime for creating multidimensional damage to the country during its 32 years of rule. Golkar has always been associated to the regime, and was founded by former president Soeharto.

Akbar said he was not insulted by Matori's statement, adding that it was normal at political meetings.

"Matori spoke at a political forum. All the mockery (by the supporters) against Golkar is also normal," he said.

Abdurrahman said a moderate Muslim movement was now growing in the country and these were being understood gradually by fundamentalist groups.

He said Islam would not reach its glory if it resorts to violence.

"Islam is an antiviolence religion," he said.

The President revealed that he received a phone call from United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Kofi Annan who told him of a growing demand for UN forces to help stop violence in riot- stricken Maluku.

"I told Kofi Annan that its better to postpone the deployment of a UN force," Abdurrahman said.

He said Indonesia could settle the problem in Maluku as quickly as it had in Aceh and Irian Jaya.

Abdurrahman said he was invited by a Jewish rabbi three years ago in Israel to sign a statement opposing the use of violence in the name of religions.

Abdurrahman also asked PKB to stay away from the country's largest Muslim group, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), despite historical ties between the two. PKB was founded by, among others, then NU chairman Abdurrahman, and it was expected that NU followers would channel their political aspirations to the party.

Abdurrahman stressed that NU is a religious organization which must be separated from politics.

"If there are no boundaries, PKB will never become a bigger party," he said.

He said NU belongs to Islam, while PKB belongs to the nation, including Muslims and non-Muslims.

"So this congress should show that PKB does not belong to Islam only, but all components of the nation. And Islam is not just NU," Abdurrahman remarked.

PKB was established on July 23, 1998 by five executives of NU and declared by Abdurrahman at his residence in Ciganjur, South Jakarta.

Abdurrahman reiterated that NU, which was established in 1926, had decided that defending the country was part of its religious obligation.

But, he said, defending the country should be based on humanity.

He said the Muslim brotherhood should be combined with the national brotherhood and the human brotherhood.

Commenting on PKB chairman Matori Abdul Djalil's speech, Abdurrahman said Matori's statement represented his frustration.

"Matori is frustrated for seeing the House exploited for just little matters," the President said.

"It's not a campaign period now. So calm down, I, the President will be patient, too," he said.

In his spirited speech, Matori said supporters of PKB and NU would not keep silent and accept efforts to topple the legitimate government of President Abdurrahman Wahid.

"We will fight violence with compassion. But PKB and NU supporters are not cowards," he contended. "We are not afraid to sacrifice our blood."

PKB is the fourth biggest party in the legislature after the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), Golkar and the United Development Party (PPP).

Sunday's ceremony was also marked by a release of a white pigeon as a symbol of peace.

Several Jakarta-based artists, including singer Franky Sahilatua and female rocker Ita Purnamasari, accompanied by the T&T Big Band orchestra, entertained party supporters.

The election of a new chairman will happen at the end of the congress. It is the first to be held since the party's establishment two years ago. Among the strong candidates for the top post are incumbent Matori and foreign minister Alwi Shihab, who is known as Abdurrahman's close confidant.