WCRP Conference (2)
WCRP Conference (2)
From Republika
Referring to the article titled Delegasi Indonesia di WCRP
"Ribut" (Indonesian delegation to WCRP "chaotic", Republika, Nov.
9, 1994), as a guest invited by the WCRP Secretary General, I
would like to give some explanation as follows.
* We were attending the Sixth General session of the World
Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP) in Riva del Garda, Italy,
at the official invitation of the WCRP Secretary General as
guests, not as a delegation. Our group consisted of four people:
Th Sumarthana Muljoatmodjo and Augustina Sarapung representing
the Institute for Interfaith Dialog in Indonesia, Djohan Effendi
and Amanda Suharnoko representing Forum for Interreligious and
Intercultural Dialog.
* As guest observers we did not have the right to vote, and
therefore did not nominate Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) to be
elected president of International WCRP.
* Gus Dur was nominated and supported by some presidents and
honorary presidents of WCRP, who know him personally, and was
also supported by members of other delegations. It has been
commonly agreed that, under certain requirements, the candidates
elected for president and honorary presidents may be an
independent person. Some candidates who have no representatives
in their respective countries have been elected for the post.
Gus Dur has certain qualities which led to his being a strong
candidate for nomination, i.e. he is internationally recognized
as an Islamic figure, he has a vision and, at this time, there is
no other person who represents Islam from the Asian region.
However, Gus Dur failed to attend the WCRP General Session in
Italy.
We were never asked to contact the Indonesian representatives
by the conference committee, and never thought the Indonesian
delegation would regard us a shadow delegation to that
conference. The delegation even showed animosity towards us.
Should any miscommunication have occurred, the problem could be
solved amicably and rationally, remembering that the main
objective of the conference is "To heal the world and religions
for peace."
* At the end of the deliberations Gus Dur of Indonesia was
elected as one of 28 presidents of WCRP and Mrs. Gedong Bagoes
Oka was elected as one of honorary presidents representing Hindus
in Asia.
AMANDA SUHARNOKO
Jakarta