Solidarity called for to cope with crisis

Solidarity called for to cope with crisis

JAKARTA (JP): Religious leaders and intellectuals have called
for solidarity to help the nation cope with the crisis that has
plagued the country in the past few months.

The group made the call in a rare gathering Tuesday evening.
They included Abdurrahman Wahid of Nahdlatul Ulama, who hosted
the meeting at his home in Ciganjur, South Jakarta, and Jakarta's
Archbishop Julius Cardinal Darmaatmadja.

Also attending were human rights campaigner Marzuki Darusman,
Todung Mulya Lubis, Asmara Nababan, philosopher and Catholic
priest Franz Magnis-Suseno, scholars Harry Tjan Silalahi, Moeslim
Abdurrahman and Ignas Kleden, senior journalist Goenawan Mohamad
and ulema-cum-poet Mustofa Bisri.

In a statement titled "Ciganjur Appeal", the group said
showing solidarity did not simply mean helping the needy, but
also required a "willingness from those who have the economic or
political power to sacrifice".

"The willingness to sacrifice means doing something that puts
people's interest above the interests of oneself, one's family or
one's group," they said.

The gathering was held to honor Christmas and to welcome the
Moslem fasting month of Ramadhan that starts next Wednesday. The
guests were served the traditional tumpengan, yellow rice dish in
a cone shape.

Respected intellectuals Amien Rais, who is also the chairman
of the 28 million-strong Muhammadiyah Moslem organization, and
Nurcholish Madjid were reportedly invited but could not make it
to the gathering.

According to Moeslim, Amien was in Singapore for a discussion
the next day, while Nurcholish was in Bogor attending the meeting
of the Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals.

Chairman of the Protestant Indonesian Communion of Churches
(PGI) Soelarso Sopater also could not attend, but was represented
by his deputy.

Dozens of journalists also attended the function held in a
tent erected in the backyard of Abdurrahman's house.

In their appeal, religious leaders and intellectuals called
for a stop to "corruption and nepotism" and for the upholding of
the law and the establishment of a clean government.

"To judges, please don't trade your verdicts. Intellectuals,
don't prostitute your minds. To all, uphold an inspiring
leadership that enables society to live a just and civilized
life," the statement said.

Harmony

In his brief address during the function, Abdurrahman said
everybody should be able to develop within themselves "an inner
space" so as to be open-hearted in accepting differences,
including faith.

"It takes courage for us all to brave a world trying to
disintegrate our togetherness. Only by being open-hearted can we
retain the peace that we need to take us all to a more dignified
living," he said.

Abdurrahman also expressed his hope that harmony between
religious leaders, as portrayed Tuesday, could send a clear
message to followers so that they could do the same.

"We must keep cultivating unity as a human race," he said.

Speaking after Abdurrahman, Archbishop Darmatmadja prayed that
God keep the nation away from the "the brim of disintegration".

"May God unite us all to repent, may God bless our
development, strengthen our brotherhood and strengthen our
national unity," said the country's Catholic leader.

Moslems make up 87 percent of Indonesia's population of 200
million people, while Protestants and Catholics make up about 5
percent of the population. The country has for the past two years
been rocked by a series of violent incidents that has pitted one
religious group against another, one political group against
others. (aan)