Candidates jockey for Muhammadiyah positions<\/p>\n
By Santi WE Soekanto and Wisnu Pramudya<\/p>\n
BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Candidates for the Muhammadiyah
\nchairmanship undertook last minute behind-the-scenes lobbying
\nyesterday to canvas support for today's election.<\/p>\n
Observers predicted that the election would be lively, judging
\nby the last two days of intensive lobbying by prospective
\nchairmen and their supporters.<\/p>\n
Despite earlier vows by leading members that there wouldn't be
\nconflicts at the congress, polarized groups have emerged.<\/p>\n
Reporters say they have been approached by certain factions
\nrequesting favorable coverage for their candidates.<\/p>\n
The congress will pick 13 people from the 40 prospects
\nselected at a preliminary meeting. The 13 will sit on the central
\nexecutive board for the 1995-2000 term.<\/p>\n
The elected 13 will later convene and decide among themselves
\nwho will chair the reformist Moslem organization.<\/p>\n
Several possible names have been mentioned, including low-
\nprofile and likable vice chairman Sutrisno Muchdam and
\nintellectual Syafii Maarif, who is known for his passionate
\nspeeches against external attempts to meddle in the
\norganization's affairs.<\/p>\n
However, the most distinct groups facing-off against each
\nother were those backing incumbent chairman Amien Rais, and those
\ncampaigning to have former vice chairman Lukman Harun included in
\nthe new board.<\/p>\n
Lukman, a prominent member who has spent years working on
\nsocial and political causes, was considered lucky to have been
\nincluded in the final 40.<\/p>\n
Lukman, Syafii and a number of other leading members have
\nrefuted reports of disunity, but several observers, each having
\nclose ties to some nominees and privy to inside information,
\nadmitted they were campaigning for certain camps.<\/p>\n
Included in this group of observers are a prominent political
\nscientist and an anthropologist. A source close to Amien told the
\nJakarta Post, under the condition of anonymity, that the
\nincumbent would surely walk out of the congress as the winner
\nbecause he has already pocketed the majority of support.<\/p>\n
He named representatives from North Sumatra, Riau, Yogyakarta,
\nWest Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta, East Java, South Sulawesi,
\nNorth Sulawesi, Maluku, East and South Kalimantan as having
\n\"absolute support\" for Amien.<\/p>\n
The source, a political scientist, said West Sumatra will be
\ndivided between Syafii Maarif and Lukman. Both men come from the
\nregion.<\/p>\n
\"I believe the West Nusa Tenggara delegates will also be
\ndivided, but I'll do my best to convince them to choose Amien,\"
\nthe source told the Post before setting off to canvass support.<\/p>\n
Amien has reaped praise from various corners for skillfully
\nsteering the preliminary meeting away from a protracted conflict
\nby convincing participants to receive 40 nominees, thus including
\nLukman, rather than 39 as dictated by the statutes.<\/p>\n
He was also commended when he opened the congress meetings in
\nArabic, and delivered a speech critical of the West and the
\nshortcomings in domestic development.<\/p>\n
Yesterday a number of participants busied themselves
\ndistributing lists of what they called \"packets of leadership\",
\neach claiming to come from different camps.<\/p>\n
The first list was said to be from Amien Rais' camp and
\nincluded bureaucrat Sutrisno Muhdam, bureaucrat Rosyad Sholeh,
\nulema and retired army colonel H.S. Prodjokusumo, tycoon Fahmi
\nChatib, politician Rusjdi Hamka, educator Yunan Yusuf, educator
\nM. Suwardi, ulema Djamaluddin Amin, ulema Anhar Burhanuddin and
\neducator Malik Fadjar.<\/p>\n
Most of the names mentioned were intellectuals and academics.
\nLukman Harun was included in the list as proof of Amien's
\nwillingness to accommodate his \"foe\", the Post's source said.<\/p>\n
Another list was said to be from Lukman's camp and included
\nAmien Rais, Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ismail Sunny and Rusjdi
\nHamka.<\/p>\n
Yet another list, said to have been drafted by Syafii Maarif,
\nincluded Syafii himself, Rosyad Sholeh, Muhammad Muqoddas,
\nintellectuals Asjmuni Abdurrahman and Yahya Muhaimin, and
\nSjukrianto A.R., son of the late Muhammadiyah leader A.R.
\nFachruddin.<\/p>\n
Both Lukman and Syafii denied knowledge of any lists.<\/p>\n
However, respected ulema Anwar Harjono from the Indonesian
\nCouncil of Islamic Propagation, who is attending the congress as
\nan observer, said he sensed the emergence of polarization.<\/p>\n
He regretted the new phenomenon.<\/p>\n
\"This is a religious movement, those who are involved in it
\nshould have a feature of ikhlas (gracefulness), rather than being
\ndriven by competition,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"There are so many urgent things that have to be handled,
\nincluding the problem of poverty among Moslems,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/candidates-jockey-for-muhammadiyah-positions-1447893297",
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