Walubi rejects rival organization

JAKARTA (JP): A representative of the Indonesian Buddhist Community (Walubi) has renounced the formation of a rival organization, The Grand Conference of Indonesian Sangha (KASI), saying that the newly formed association had little backing from Buddhists here.

Oka Diputra, who chairs Walubi, told journalists on Saturday that the new Buddhist organization had no authority to make dharmas (codes) nor could it issue rulings.

He claimed that KASI, established by the Budhayana Assembly on Nov. 14, only represented a tiny portion of the five million Buddhists in Indonesia.

"Of course, Buddhists here are free to associate, but such an organization should not be created just because of an internal conflict within Walubi," he said.

Walubi executives were divisively torn following the election of their representative to the interest group faction in the People's Consultative Assembly.

Many groups in Walubi nominated Hartati Murdaya, a Buddhist businesswoman, while the Budhayana Assembly nominated its chairman Pramono.

The National Election Commission, which was in charge of selecting the 65-member interest group faction, in the end appointed Hartati, also a former deputy chairwoman of the Supreme Advisory Council, to represent Walubi in the Assembly.

Oka said Walubi was open to peaceful dialog and reconciliation provided the rival organization was dissolved.

He said the presence of two organizations in the Buddhist community would raise confusion among the people. (rms)