Religious Minister Holds Meeting With Madura Clerics

Sampang, East Java (Antara) - Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali held a meeting with Muslim clerics in Sampang on Madura Island, East Lava, on Wednesday. The minister held the meeting at Darut Tauhid Islamic boarding school here with the local clerics to discuss ways to solve a conflict which broke out recently against Shiite Muslim community. Also present at the meeting were Public Housing Minister Djan Faridz, East Java Governor Soekarwo, and Sampang deputy district head Fadilah Budiono. "The aim of this meeting is to find out an alternative solution to the conflict which affected the Shiite Muslim community in Sampang," Minister Suryadharma explained. Wednesday's meeting of the minister with the clerics from Madura Island was the follow up of the previous one in Surabaya to discuss a reconciliation effort with the Shiite Muslim group. In principle the government wanted the Shiite Muslims to return to their home villages in Karanggaram and Bluuran to lead a normal life. The minster said the government also promised to renovate all houses of Shiite Muslims which were damaged during the conflict. Meanwhile, Fadilah Budiono said he would continue to make persuasive approaches to public figures and the clerics to find the best possible solution to the case. Fadilah was certain that the clerics, especially those in Sampang, actually wanted the Muslims to live in harmony and mutually respect differences. "To achieve a good purpose, it should be done in a good way. Therefore we will continue to make effort to solve the problem as soon as possible and to make the people live in harmony," Fadilah said.(*)