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