PBNU will leave for Lebanon to reduce conflict escalation

Jakarta, NU Online
The Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) along with its leaders will reportedly leave for Lebanon and Syria at the invitation of the Beirut-based Global Islamic Consultation. They will fly to Lebanon on Thursday (14/1) to take part in reducing conflicting groups in addition to conveying the NU ideas related to the religious life in Indonesia.

"Tomorrow, we will leave for Lebanon and Syria at the invitation of such Islamic groups as Sunni, Syi'ite, the Mennonites in Beirut and South Lebanon near the border with Israel," general chairman of PBNU KH Hasyim Muzadi said after his meeting with President SBY at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday.<>

According to Hasyim the president greatly supported NU for its role in helping create peace in the region, saying that at this point NU was representative of Indonesia through its formal channels in any diplomacy in deal with such conflicts.

"We will contribute to reduce the conflict escalation. We will convey the vision of Indonesia. We who are different in faith can live life peacefully. Why (the same condition) cannot be realized in Lebanon which has predominantly been inhabited by Muslims? Such vision we'd like to convey.

He further explained that as the biggest Muslim organization in the contry, NU would always seed and promote any Indonesian styled 'peace' to conflicting regions.

The secretary general of the NU's International Conference of Islamic Scholars will be accompanied by editor-in-chief of the PBNU news portal, NU Online, Abdul Mun'im DZ. (min)