***Dr. Din Syamsuddin, chair of Muhammadiyah, and Dr. Masykuri Abdillah, vice-chair of Nadhlatul Ulama, flew to Manila from Jakarta to share their thoughts and experiences.
Monday, February 04, 2008 DURIAN By Amina Rasul Power of the mimbar >From January 28 to 30, almost 200 Muslim religious scholars and leaders gathered at the Bayview Park Hotel to engage in intense discussions on the situation of the Muslims in the Philippines, the deteriorating conditions in Mindanao, and what they could do to help uplift the conditions of their community, the ummah. Outside the conference hall, it was politics as usual. Philippine politicians continued to wrangle and bicker about charter change, corruption and power. ZTE's black cloud hovered over the Palace as governors were entertained, agenda unknown. Congressman Balindong delivered a privilege speech against the entry of Balikatan into the peaceful areas of the Lanao provinces. Another explosion wracked the peace in General Santos. I was informed that Ambassador Adem Salem again hosted a dinner for MNLF leaders. Inside the conference hall, the gathered ulama did not allow the political noises to distract them from the reason why they traveled to Manila. During the previous regional discussions, the ulama had already assessed the situation of the ummah (Muslim community), and were determined to find a way to overcome problems as they sought a better way to serve the ummah. Dr. Din Syamsuddin, chair of Muhammadiyah, and Dr. Masykuri Abdillah, vice-chair of Nadhlatul Ulama, flew to Manila from Jakarta to share their thoughts and experiences. We were concerned that they might not be able to join us due to the death of former Indonesian President Suharto. Muhammadiyah and Nadhlatul are the two largest Muslim organizations in the world. Muhammadiyah has 30 million members, and Nadhlatul has 50 million members. Both organizations are very influential, with members elected to parliament or appointed to high government positions. Both organizations provide public services to their communities, running schools and hospitals as well as lending operations. Imagine if our ulama could come together and establish similar organizations! This was at the back of the minds of our ulama. Dr. Maarof Salleh, who was president for eight years of the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS), the supreme Islamic religious authority in Singapore, recounted the history of the Singapore Muslims, stressing that they fully recognize that they are Singaporeans. They have a successful and constructive engagement with their government and the non-Muslim communities. This struck a chord among our ulama, who keenly feel the Philippine government's lack of inclusivity in making decisions that affect the fate of the Muslim communities. The ulama wield tremendous influence over the ummah as they deliver their sermons from the mimbar (equivalent of pulpit). It is a never ending mystery to us why government does not involve the religious scholars and leaders more in its pitiful attempts to bring peace to Mindanao. If Malacanang bothered to listen, then it would not continue to rely on military means to secure the peace. The ulama passed several resolutions, signed by 175 participants, which we hope Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza will bring to the attention of the Palace. They called on government and the MILF to return to the peace process, for the review and full implementation of the GRP-MNLF 1996 Peace Agreement, and to stop Balikatan from entering the peaceful Muslim communities as well as the immediate review of Balikatan operations. They demanded the review of cases of Muslims, especially Muslim religious leaders apprehended by the military and police and who are now languishing in jails and detention centers on charges of violating the Anti-Terror Act; that these be granted access to legal assistance; and, in the absence of evidence against them, that they be freed from their arbitrary detention. If only government would listen... http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/feb/04/yehey/opinion/2008020 4opi6.html Post message: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED] List owner : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
