Catholics urged to vote 'clean'<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Bishop Council (KWI) urged Catholics across the
\ncountry to vote only for candidates with clean track records
\nduring the elections next year, regardless of religious or
\npolitical affiliation.<\/p>\n
KWI chairman Julius Kardinal Darmaatmadja said on Thursday
\nthat despite their status as minorities in this country,
\nCatholics in Indonesia had a great responsibility to join in the
\nefforts to build a clean government.<\/p>\n
\"We can see that the country is facing serious problems
\nbecause of rampant greed and corruption. As citizens, it is our
\nresponsibility to stop this behavior and fight against greed,\"
\nJulius asserted during a press conference that capped KWI's 10-
\nday meeting here.<\/p>\n
He said he was impressed by the national anticorruption
\ncampaign launched by the country's two largest Muslim
\norganizations Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah.<\/p>\n
\"We (Christians) must join and support the anticorruption
\nmovement,\" said Julius, who along with NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi
\nand Muhammadiyah chairman Syafii Maarif, founded the National
\nMoral Movement last year.<\/p>\n
NU and Muhammadiyah, in cooperation with the Partnership,
\nkicked of the movement early last month, starting with upholding
\nintegrity within their own organizations.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has regularly won the dubious honor of being named
\none of the most corrupt countries in the world, but current and
\npast leaders have remained in denial, usually responding by
\nsaying the methods used to determine corruption were flawed.<\/p>\n
Observers have said corruption had ironically become more
\npredominant and pervasive since the reform movement began six
\nyears ago -- the very raison d'etre of said movement.<\/p>\n
Julius said KWI would issue a simple election guide with
\nrecommended candidates, or those who are thought to have a
\nrelatively high level of integrity.<\/p>\n
The figures that KWI plans to support will ideally be
\ncandidates of good character, those who promote social justice
\nand put the nation's interests before any individual or group.<\/p>\n
\"I'm not going to intervene in the political rights of
\nCatholic people because they have their own perceptions about
\npolitics. But as a leader, I want to promote a united vision,\"
\nJulius said.<\/p>\n
He said Indonesian Catholic churches would begin distributing
\nthe guide book amid concerns of an increase in corruption,
\nnepotism and collusion ahead of the election.<\/p>\n
\"People who hold power continue to hold the money, while
\npenniless people are dying out here,\" he lamented.<\/p>\n
\"I wish to enlighten my congregation and make them understand
\nhow to exercise their political rights. They have to choose the
\nright candidates regardless of their political parties.\"<\/p>\n
The guideline, which will be issued soon, will provide
\nCatholics with a clear background of the basic problems facing
\nthe country, including money politics, huge foreign debts and
\nenvironmental destruction.<\/p>\n
\"The goal is to abide by clear principles during the 2004
\ngeneral elections,\" Julius said.<\/p>\n
The guideline was formulated during the meeting of the 39
\nbishops under KWI.<\/p>\n
KWI secretary-general Ignatius Suharyo, who accompanied Julius
\nduring the press conference, said \"the issue of politics was
\ndeliberately discussed\" as the country was bracing itself for the
\nelections.<\/p>\n
The country will elect its legislative members on April 5 and
\nthe president in June or, if no candidate wins the majority vote,
\nin September next year.<\/p>\n
Suharyo said KWI would focus on socio-economic issues in the
\nnext convention, while in 2005, cultural issues would be the
\nhighlight.<\/p>",
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