Youths pray for peace, unity

YOGYAKARTA: About 500 youths representing various religions grouped under the United People's Forum gathered at the Pagelaran hall in the Sultan's Palace compound on Friday to say prayers for national unity and peace.

Attended by Governor and Yogyakarta Sultan Hamengkubuwono X and Gadjah Mada University's rector Ichlasul Amal, the youths read out their pledge to maintain the country's unity in plurality.

"There is evidence that the struggle for democracy and sweeping reform has been shifted to an antireform and antidemocracy movement for issuing threats of national disintegration," Hamengkubuwono said in his speech.

"If we fail to use our common sense and exercise restraint, this country may only have to wait for days for its ruin," he added. (swa/edt)