Amien Rais replaced as Muhammadiyah chairman<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Amien Rais was replaced yesterday as chairman of
\nMuhammadiyah, an influential Moslem organization, because of his
\nimpending chairmanship of a new political party.<\/p>\n
He will be replaced by deputy chairman Syafi'i Ma'arif, who
\nwill serve as acting chairman till the next leadership meeting.<\/p>\n
Secretary of Muhammadiyah's central board, A Watik Pratiknya,
\nsaid here yesterday that the decision was taken in accordance
\nwith the organization's statutes.<\/p>\n
\"An article in the Muhammadiyah statutes specifically forbids
\ndual posts in political or social organizations which have
\nsimilar activities,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Amien is set to lead the much anticipated National Mandate
\nParty, which will be formally declared here today.<\/p>\n
The party, which will include economist Faisal Basri, senior
\njournalist Goenawan Mohamad and political scientist Mochtar
\nPabottingi, is expected to be a potent new force in the political
\narena.<\/p>\n
In a television interview on SCTV last night, Amien said the
\ndecision was fully in line with the organization's statutes; that
\nthere were \"important ethical considerations\" that have to be
\ntaken into account if he were to remain chairman of both
\nMuhammadiyah and a political party.<\/p>\n
When asked why he decided to relinquish his post at the 28-
\nmillion strong Moslem organization, Amien said his colleagues,
\nwho together pushed forward the reform ideas, urged him \"to
\npersevere in driving the reform carriage forward\".<\/p>\n
Watik said the decision to select Syafi'i as acting chairman
\ncame after the executive board agreed to choose between the two
\ndeputies.<\/p>\n
\"Pak Syafi'i and Pak Sutrisno Muhdam (the two deputy chairmen)
\nmet and concluded that Pak Syafi'i would assume the caretaker
\npost,\" Watik said, reported Antara yesterday.<\/p>\n
Watik said no date has been set for the next leadership
\nmeeting to choose a new chairman.<\/p>\n
\"There are one or two technical difficulties we have to work
\nout since the last leadership meeting was held recently in July,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
In a press statement issued yesterday, Muhammadiyah stressed
\nthat there were no formal alliances between it and other
\npolitical parties, including the National Mandate Party.<\/p>\n
To further assert its independence, Muhammadiyah forbids the
\nuse of its facilities for the activities of any political party.
\n(mds)<\/p>",
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