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)

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