Achmad opens ICMI congress<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The third congress of the Association of
\nIndonesian Muslim Intellectuals (ICMI) was opened on Thursday by
\nits acting chairman Achmad Tirtosudiro, who stressed the
\nimportance of human resources development.<\/p>\n
\"As many people choose political parties, it's a chance for
\nICMI to focus on the development of human resources,\" Achmad, who
\nalso chairs the Supreme Advisory Council (DPA), said in his
\naddress to around 1,000 participants at the Pencak Silat Center
\nnear the Indonesia Miniature Park, East Jakarta. The congress is
\nheld every five years.<\/p>\n
He urged ICMI, as a group of intellectuals, to continue its
\nstruggle for improving human resources quality, both in their
\nreligious and professional standards.<\/p>\n
He claimed that ICMI's cadres, who include members of the
\nbureaucracy apparatus, had contributed much to the democratic
\ntransition period from the New Order to the current reform era.<\/p>\n
\"Our intellectual cadres were also involved in asking the
\nformer President to step down. We also contributed to the
\nacceleration of the democratization process during the term of
\nformer president B.J. Habibie,\" he remarked.<\/p>\n
Habibie, who has led the association since its inception in
\n1990, failed to show up for the ceremony.<\/p>\n
Achmad said Habibie was accompanying his ailing wife in
\nGermany.<\/p>\n
\"Pak Habibie said he hoped to see ICMI's existence maintained
\nto help the nation foster unity,\" Achmad said.<\/p>\n
He said ICMI would also remain an association of intellectuals
\nof various backgrounds and educations.<\/p>\n
As a religious-based organization, Achmad said ICMI had
\nsucceeded in leading Muslims from a peripheral to a major role in
\nthe country's political scene.<\/p>\n
The four-day congress will elect a new chairman and other
\nexecutives for the next five-year term.<\/p>\n
Several names have been tipped to replace Habibie, including
\nthe incumbent secretary-general and former minister of
\ncooperative and small and medium enterprises Adi Sasono and ICMI
\ndeputy chairman M. Dawam Rahardjo.<\/p>\n
During Habibie's term, many ICMI members held crucial
\nministerial and other government posts.<\/p>\n
Several ICMI's senior members, including chairman of the
\nSupreme Audit Agency (BPK) Satrio Budihardjo Joedono, and former
\nstate minister for food A.M. Sjaifuddin, attended the ceremony.<\/p>\n
President Abdurrahman Wahid was known as an outspoken critic
\nof the association in the past. (jun)<\/p>",
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