President to open ulemas congress

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)