Gus Dur denies calling ICMI sectarian<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Moslem scholar Abdurrahman Wahid, long thought
\nto despise the Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals
\n(ICMI), said he needed the powerful organization just like many
\nother Indonesians.<\/p>\n
The chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia's largest
\nMoslem organization with some 30 million supporters, denied he
\never accused ICMI of being a sectarian group. The association of
\nintellectuals is chaired by State Minister of Research and
\nTechnology B.J. Habibie.<\/p>\n
\"I never thought of ICMI as sectarian. It's the elements
\nwithin the organization that are sectarian, and they will harm
\nthe organization itself,\" Abdurrahman said. He cited Masjumi, a
\npowerful Islamic political party in the 1950s which crumbled
\nbecause of internal conflicts among its \"militant elements\".<\/p>\n
Speaking in a gathering of Moslem students in Surabaya, East
\nJava Monday, Abdurrahman said: \"ICMI should purge itself of its
\nsectarian, harmful elements so that the organization can be
\nstrong forever.<\/p>\n
\"If people ask me, I'd say that I need ICMI. But not ICMI
\nwhich is dominated by the sectarian elements, namely people who
\ntry to force their will on others.\"<\/p>\n
Since it was established in 1990, ICMI has gone from strength
\nto strength. It is now manned not only by intellectuals but also
\npowerful bureaucratic and political figures in the country. At
\none point, the organization was said to have influenced the
\nformation of the current cabinet.<\/p>\n
The organization, which lists as its chief patron President
\nSoeharto, has often been accused of being too dependent on
\nHabibie, \"the super minister\" who happens to be a close confidant
\nof the president.<\/p>\n
Despite the leaders' repeated assertion to the contrary, ICMI
\nhas also accused it of dabbling in elite politics, and of
\nbecoming a mere tool for the power holders to mobilize the
\nincreasingly influential Moslems, especially those from the
\nmiddle class.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman, better known as Gus Dur, has also often
\ncriticized the association for its proximity to the power
\nholders.<\/p>\n
\"Unless the organization cleanses itself of its 'ulcers',
\nthere will emerge Moslem groups who pit one group against
\nanother, or with other religious groups,\" Abdurrahman was quoted
\nby Antara as saying. \"This situation will eventually harm
\nMoslems.\"<\/p>\n
He suggested that one of the first steps that ICMI should take
\nis to stop seeing those who don't support it as \"committing
\nsins\".<\/p>\n
NU<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman also asserted the political independence of
\nNahdlatul Ulama. \"Most NU members want an indirect political
\nrole,\" he said.<\/p>\n
With an indirect role, NU members do not have to get
\nthemselves involved in practical politics but still have the
\nchance to channel their political aspirations, Abdurrahman said.<\/p>\n
\"Today, however, some NU members are affiliated with the
\nMoslem-based United Development Party (PPP), the nationalist
\nIndonesian Democratic Party (PDI) or even the bureaucracy-backed
\nGolkar,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Still, the majority want an indirect political role, he said.
\nThis does not necessarily mean NU will make a fuss about the
\npolitical affiliation of some of its members because there is
\nactually \"nothing bad\" about it, he said.<\/p>\n
He also said no regulation prohibits NU members from
\nchanneling their aspirations to ICMI.<\/p>\n
The NU, officially established in 1926, is also believed to be
\nthe world's largest Islamic organization. It reportedly has no
\nless than 30 million members throughout Indonesia, making it a
\nvery influential organization.<\/p>\n
According to Abdurrahman, the indirect political role is not a
\npolicy he created.<\/p>\n
\"It was something from our previous leaders like Achmad
\nShidiq, Bisri Syamsuri and Ali Maksum. I just continued what had
\nbeen passed on to me,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman also said he plans to arrange a meeting between
\nSiti Hardiyanti Rukmana, President Soeharto's eldest daughter,
\nand NU members.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, he expressed hope that if it pushes through, the
\nmeeting should not be interpreted as NU's support for Golkar.<\/p>\n
Rukmana, popularly known as Tutut, is a member of the Golkar
\nexecutive board. She is included in the list of candidates for
\nthe 1992-2002 House of Representatives (DPR) as a Golkar
\nrepresentative of the province of Central Java.<\/p>\n
\"The NU after all, has no tradition of supporting or not
\nsupporting a political figure,\" he said, adding that the meeting
\nis just a way of NU giving Golkar a chance to win NU members'
\nhearts and minds.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman said he can also arrange a similar meeting with
\nleaders of the PPP and the PDI. (swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gus-dur-denies-calling-icmi-sectarian-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}