300 at Vigil Mourn Tsunami Victims

More than 300 Indonesians from throughout the Southland held a candlelight vigil at their homeland’s consulate in Koreatown on Thursday to remember the tsunami victims.

The proceeding began with the Indonesian national anthem and prayer.

Consul General Handriyo Kusumo-Priyo said Indonesians living in Los Angeles are morally obligated to help.

“Tonight, let us together feel the pain that [survivors] feel,” he said. “I believe that the question that must come from us is ‘What can we do for the brothers and sisters that are suffering right now?’ ”

Priyo was joined by leaders representing Christian, Islamic, Buddhist and Hindu religious traditions in prayer as many fought tears.

Asyraf Bim-Merle of Beverly Hills said she couldn’t stop herself from crying while watching television footage. “Even my husband cries,” she said.

Menul Cahyami of West Covina, a Cal State L.A. student, said she would give what she could.

“I wish I could go over there and volunteer to do something.”

About 15,000 Indonesians live in Southern California, Priyo said. So far, he has received only one report of an Indonesian immigrant here who may have lost relatives in the Dec. 26 disaster.

A consular task force formed to collect donations has received money from groups and individuals, such as a Filipino man who walked in and left $20.