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)