Soeharto says Moslems must put house in order
Soeharto says Moslems must put house in order
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto yesterday said Moslems must
seek a common vision, resolve conflicts and improve political
stability in order to face the challenges of the future.
Opening the first International Islamic Conference for
Science, Technology and Human Resource Development yesterday,
Soeharto told 400 intellectuals and Moslem leaders from Indonesia
and abroad that Moslem communities must set their vision clearly
to face the future.
This common vision, however, must also allow enough
maneuvering room for Moslems to meet the individual demands of
their different countries.
"We also have to accept the fact that Moslems living in a
particular region or country have different opportunities and
challenges than those living in other regions," Soeharto said.
"It's therefore indispensable that to seize opportunities and
face future challenges, the Moslem ummah must put their house in
order," he said at the State Palace.
Establishing political stability at the domestic, regional and
international levels is crucial, he said.
"Moslems in a region or country will never make any progress
when they are constantly being compromised by protracted
international conflicts and wars with their neighbors," he said.
"Islam is a peace-loving religion. It is a religion that
instructs its followers constantly to strive for progress," he
said. "The mastery of both science and technology by the Moslem
ummah is a conditio-sine-qua-non."
Soeharto said that Moslems, as a community that loves
progress, are taught to remain open-minded to study, utilize and
promote, scientific traditions -- even those from non-Moslem
societies.
"The history of civilization shows that the process of dialog,
borrowing and even taking over the results of scientific and
technological process from other civilizations are normal
practices," he said.
The first conference of the International Islamic Forum for
Science, Technology and Human Resource Development will last
through tomorrow. Speakers at the gathering included Malaysia's
Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, president of Islamic
Development Bank Dr. Ahmad Muhammad Ali, and secretary general of
Rabithah Alam Islami Dr. Abdullah bin Salen bin Obei.
The forum itself was established in June by six international
Islamic organizations, including the Association of Indonesian
Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI). B.J. Habibie, the chairman of ICMI,
and the other founders established the forum in front of the
Kaaba in Mecca.
The conference focused on the three most serious challenges
Moslems face in the coming century: eradicating poverty,
strengthening human resources, and mastering science and
technology.
Participants will also learn from each other's diverse
experiences in the Moslem world. Bangladesh and Sudan will speak
about the status of their anti-poverty campaigns, while Malaysia,
Morocco and Iran will discuss their human resource development
strategies. (swe)
Islam -- Page 2