President to open ulemas congress

SEMARANG: Some 300 ulemas from Yogyakarta and Central Java will attend a congress here which will be opened by President Abdurrahman Wahid on Saturday.

Spokesman for the provincial administration Soetrisno said on Friday that the four-day congress was aimed at discussing recent problems the ulemas faced.

"Ulemas invited to this event are those who are involved in humanitarian work to help laborers, farmers and fisherfolk," Soetrisno said.

Several noted figures have been invited as speakers at the congress, including State Minister of Research and Technology A.S. Hikam, chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Hasyim Muzadi, cultural observer and Muslim cleric Kyai Mustofa Bisri, former minister of cooperatives and small enterprises Subiakto Tjakrawerdaya and the President's younger brother Hasyim Wahid.

Soetrisno said the organizing committee would mobilize 1,000 Banser civilian guards, local military and police officers to safeguard the event.

Accompanying Abdurrahman on Saturday's visit will be First Lady Sinta Nuriyah, Minister of National Education Yahya Muhaimin, Minister of Religious Affairs Tolchah Hasan and interim Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Surjadi Soedirdja. (har/01)