Amien warned against criticizing Gus Dur<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien
\nRais got a dose of his own medicine when the Muhammadiyah Muslim
\norganization, which he chaired for many years, formally
\nreprimanded his incessant attacks on President Abdurrahman Wahid.<\/p>\n
Muhammadiyah Chairman Ahmad Syafi'i Maarif said on Wednesday
\nthe organization had delivered a written and spoken warning for
\nAmien to control his criticism of the President.<\/p>\n
Syafi'i feared that Amien's sharp remarks against the
\nPresident could negatively affect the divide between Muhammadiyah
\nand Nadhatul Ulama (NU), which Abdurrahman formerly chaired.<\/p>\n
The two organizations are regarded as the two most powerful
\nsocio-religious organizations in the country. However, the two
\nrarely see eye-to-eye on many issues.<\/p>\n
\"Amien should improve the manner in which he criticizes and I
\nhave warned him both in writing and verbally. Amien received the
\ncomments positively but he needs time to change,\" Syafi'i
\nremarked.<\/p>\n
Syafi'i warned that arguments between the two Muslim leaders
\ncould ignite a horizontal conflict among grass roots supporters
\nof the organizations, so both Amien and Abdurrahman must control
\ntheir statements to bring peace to Muslims.<\/p>\n
\"I am sure if the elites can restrain themselves and remember
\nthat their disputes can be very dangerous to the people, then
\nthere will be no horizontal conflict between the supporters of
\nthe two Muslim organizations,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Syafi'i further emphasized that understanding between the two
\nleaders will strengthen Muslim brotherhood.<\/p>\n
But separately Amien Rais kept up his barrage of criticism
\nagainst the President.<\/p>\n
\"I suggested the he (Abdurrahman) should undertake a 'fasting
\nspeech'. It would make the session comfortable,\" Amien who chairs
\nthe National Mandate Party, said on Wednesday, referring to the
\nAugust General Session of the Assembly.<\/p>\n
Amien contended that Abdurrahman's controversial statements
\nhave caused confusion and concern among the public.<\/p>\n
And House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung also
\nremarked that it may be a good idea for Abdurrahman to stop
\nmaking controversial statements.<\/p>\n
\"No more controversial statements. Gus Dur should be
\nproportional in making statements,\" Akbar who is chairman of the
\nGolkar Party said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in Bandung, West Java, Army Chief of Staff Gen.
\nTyasno Sudarto called on political elites to stop making
\nconflicting statements as the people are getting more and more
\nfrustrated.<\/p>\n
\"In such a critical situation, the country needs political
\nelites with maturity,\" he said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\"The heated debates by political elites in several forums and
\ninterviews need cooling off,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"The open debates on politics on the recent security situation
\nand rioting in several areas in the country have indirectly
\ndisturbed the military, especially the Army's performance.\"<\/p>\n
He also urged political elites to stop fighting for the
\ninterest of their own groups and start thinking of the nation's
\ninterest.<\/p>\n
Tyasno made the statements after presiding over two ceremonies
\nin the transfer of duty at the Army's Staff Command School here.<\/p>\n
Maj. Gen. Djoko Besariman transferred his post as chief of the
\nArmy's Staff Command School to Maj. Gen. Bibit Waluyo, while
\nMaj. Gen. Amir Sembiring was installed at the Army Education and
\nTraining School to replace Lt. Gen. Sumardi. (25\/sur\/dja\/jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/amien-warned-against-criticizing-gus-dur-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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