Ulemas pray for Soeharto
Ulemas pray for Soeharto
JAKARTA (JP): Some 200 ulemas of the influential Nahdlatul
Ulama (NU) organization gathered here Saturday to pray for
President Soeharto's health and reelection in March.
The ulemas, among whom were heads of some of the NU's 6,000
boarding schools which teach millions of students, also prayed
for an immediate recovery for the Indonesian economy.
The prayer session was held at the Assiddiqiyah Pondok
Pesantren (Islamic boarding school) in Kedoya, West Jakarta.
"O Allah, please let Haj Muhammad Soeharto be our President
today and in the future," went the ulemas' prayer, read out by
Ilyas Rukhiat, chairman of the organization's Syuriyah (lawmaking
body).
The presidential election, the vice presidential election and
the endorsement of the 1998/2003 State Policy Guidelines, will be
held by the 1,000-member People's Consultative Assembly in its
general meetings from March 1 to March 11.
In another part of the prayer the ulemas called for the
blessing of Allah so that Indonesia can thrive despite the series
of crises that has battered it over the past two years.
"We ask for Your help in our efforts to survive the drought
and monetary crisis, which have seriously affected the greater
part of the nation -- the low-income citizens who live in
villages, the Islamic boarding schools, and the low-paid
workers," they beseeched.
The ulemas also prayed for God to help the nation so that the
economy improves and people's confidence in state leaders is
restored.
They also prayed for solidarity so that the wealthy become
willing to help their poor brethren.
They then prayed for the people of the nation to grow to love
domestic products, as this is proof of their love for Indonesia.
The ulemas collected one kilogram of gold at the gathering, in
the form of jewelry and trinkets, which they donated to the
government to help ease the economic crisis.
They delivered the gold and the text of their prayer later in
the day to President Soeharto at his residence on Jl. Cendana in
Central Jakarta.
Their presentation of the gold was witnessed by Soeharto's
eldest daughter Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, his son Bambang
Trihatmodjo and Minister of Information R. Hartono.
The leader of the Assiddiqiyah boarding school, Noer Muhammad
Iskandar, told journalists the prayer for Soeharto was held
because he was still the key factor to restoring the country's
political and economic stability.
"You (journalists) must have observed that reports on
President Soeharto's ailing health have weakened the rupiah, in
particular, and economic stability in general.
"Therefore, we think that it's necessary to pray for his
health and physical and mental strength so that he can continue
leading the country until we find the right person to replace
him."
Noer said he was confident President Soeharto would be
reelected in March.
He denied that the prayer had been held at his initiative. He
said it had been planned by all the ulemas in the organization.
The NU has some 30 million followers.
He also denied political motives were behind the prayer.
"It will be up to the people to decide whether to call it a
political prayer or not," he said.
President Soeharto looks set to be reelected for a seventh
consecutive term in March as he has been officially nominated by
the dominant Golkar.
Prior to past presidential elections, groups of influential
people, including ulemas, have often held prayers for him.
Those opposed to such gestures call these gatherings
"political prayers".
Last Friday, 70 members of an association of Moslem youths and
mosque activists issued what they called "The Ramadhan Message"
which called for Soeharto to remain in power until the economic
crisis is over.
They delivered their message to the Golkar faction at the
People's Consultative Assembly. (imn)