Youths miss Hayono, Amien

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Muhammadiyah Moslem Students began their four-day congress yesterday without scheduled guest speakers State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman and Muhammadiyah chairman Amien Rais.

The organization's chairman, Syahril Syah, and secretary- general, Abdul Rohom Ghozali, issued a statement expressing regret over Hayono's failure to show up or send a stand-in. They did not protest about Amien, who is currently in the news over his resignation from the politically well-connected Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals.

Close to tears, Syahril told the 504 participants from across the country that they should be strong and patient in the absence of their leader. "There's nothing wrong with this congress. Allah is with us all," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

Amien had previously said he would attend the ninth congress.

"This is the first time the Muhammadiyah Moslem Students congress has been opened without the presence of one of Muhammadiyah's leaders," Syahril said. (swe)