Emha questions creation of new intellectual group<\/p>\n
SEMARANG (JP): The establishment of the Association of
\nIntellectuals for Pancasila Development (PCPP) may be part of a
\n\"bigger movement\", according to controversial poet and playwright
\nEmha Ainun Nadjib.<\/p>\n
\"The PCPP is not solely an intellectual forum. It is being
\nused to divert public attention from something bigger that is not
\nyet transparent,\" Emha told reporters yesterday.<\/p>\n
So far, news about the PCPP has focused more on its
\nestablishment. But its background, purposes and direction have
\nnot been fully disclosed, he said.<\/p>\n
\"I think it is naive, may be even stupid, to simply discuss
\nthe PCPP on the surface without realizing what is really going on
\nbehind it. It's like the odor released when someone passes wind:
\nWe should not only smell it, but find out where it's coming from
\nand where it is heading.\"<\/p>\n
Asked to explain what he meant by a \"bigger movement\" Emha
\nsaid that the establishment of the PCPP might have something to
\ndo with the national leadership succession. \"Just think. Why
\nPurwokerto -- a hinterland town -- rather than a coastal town?\"<\/p>\n
The PCPP was founded by a group of lecturers at the Jenderal
\nSudirman University in Purwokerto in July. The association, which
\ncurrently remains without a chairman, has rapidly expanded and
\nestablished branches in other cities. So rapid has been its
\nexpansion that it has been seen by some as rivaling the
\ninfluential Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals
\n(ICMI).<\/p>\n
The PCPP has received widespread support from senior
\ngovernment officials not connected with the ICMI and scholars who
\nare looking for a forum that is not based on religious faith. The
\nassociation is planning to hold a congress in November to elect a
\nleader.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile on Tuesday, the ICMI and four other religious-based
\nintellectual groups announced that they plan to organize a
\nseminar to discuss the relevance of the state ideology Pancasila
\nin relation to national culture.<\/p>\n
The seminar, scheduled for Nov. 10, will be opened by
\nPresident Soeharto, said ICMI chairman B.J. Habibie.<\/p>\n
Habibie reported to the head of state at his Jl. Cendana
\nresidence on Tuesday along with the leaders of the four other
\ngroups, which included Siti Hartati Murdaya and Oka Diputra, both
\nof the Buddhist KCBI, Putu Setia of the Hindu FCHI, Joko Wijono
\nand Martin Pakpahan of the Catholic ISKA, Peter Sumbung and
\nCornelius Ronowijoyo of the Protestant PIKI, and Jimly Ash
\nShiddiqy of the ICMI.<\/p>\n
Habibie said it is the duty of the country's intellectuals to
\nensure -- by persuasion rather than by force -- that the state
\nideology is accepted by the entire nation.<\/p>\n
The idea for the seminar's theme came from PIKI, Habibie said.<\/p>\n
\"We realize that in our development endeavors, we should not
\nonly go after material gains but more important are the spiritual
\nvalues that bind and unite the people of this maritime nation.\"<\/p>\n
He underlined that Pancasila was \"dug out\" rather than
\n\"created\" by Sukarno, Indonesia's first president, from the
\nvalues found in Indonesia's cultures.<\/p>\n
The launching of the seminar on Nov. 10 will coincide with the
\ninauguration of the Science and Technology Center at Taman Mini
\nin East Jakarta, he added.<\/p>\n
Nov. 10 is also Heroes Day in Indonesia. (har\/emb)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/emha-questions-creation-of-new-intellectual-group-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }