ICMI and 1966 activists against national dialog<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Association of the Indonesian Muslim
\nIntellectuals (ICMI) and activists of the 1966 generation on
\nWednesday joined hands in opposing a proposed national dialog for
\nreconciliation.<\/p>\n
ICMI executive chairman Achmad Tirtosudiro, executive chairman
\nof the Arief Rahman Hakim Big Family of 1966 student activists
\nArief Biki, and former student leader Bambang W. Soeharto
\nchallenged the credibility of the planned dialog initiated by
\nMuslim leader Abdurrahman Wahid.<\/p>\n
\"The planned national dialog, which will involve only four
\nnational figures does not represent the whole nation,\" Achmad
\nsaid in a media conference, evaluating the latest development in
\nthe country's political affairs.<\/p>\n
The four that he mentioned were President B.J. Habibie,
\nMinister of Defense and Security\/Armed Forces Chief Gen. Wiranto,
\nformer president Soeharto and Abdurrahman himself, who chairs the
\nNahdlatul Ulama (NU) Muslim organization.<\/p>\n
Achmad, who is also deputy chairman of the Supreme Advisory
\nCouncil, said the four were not equal in rank or position.<\/p>\n
\"Pak Habibie is the president, while Wiranto is one of his
\naides. They are not equal,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Even more odd is that the dialog will involve former
\npresident Soeharto, who is considered equal to Habibie just
\nbecause he still has a lot of supporters and is financially
\nstrong,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Achmad said the dialog would only put Habibie in a dilemma.<\/p>\n
\"If he (Habibie) accepts the proposal, he'll still be
\nconsidered under the influence of Soeharto's New Order regime,\"
\nhe said. \"If he refuses, he'll be accused of being undemocratic.\"<\/p>\n
He hailed Habibie's refusal to attend the planned meeting.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman, however, insisted Habibie did not reject a
\nmeeting with Soeharto. He said on Sunday that Habibie only wanted
\nto meet Soeharto as an individual.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman said after meeting Soeharto on Saturday that the
\nformer president, Habibie, Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen.
\nWiranto and himself should meet for a dialog in the drive toward
\nfostering national reconciliation.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman's critics have expressed fears his move may divert
\nthe focus away from legal proceedings against Soeharto, and some
\nhave accused him of harboring political ambitions.<\/p>\n
Achmad charged that Abdurrahman, fondly known as Gus Dur, had
\na political motive behind his maneuvers.<\/p>\n
\"Gus Dur has a big name. And he uses his position for his
\npolitical purposes,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Similarly, Arief Biki charged both Abdurrahman and Wiranto
\nwith harboring political interests with their maneuvers.<\/p>\n
\"Should Gus Dur and Wiranto forward their political interests
\nin pursuit of the presidency, we'll not hesitate mobilizing the
\nstudents to continue with peaceful reform actions,\" he said in a
\npress statement, copies of which were made available to the press
\non Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Bambang echoed Achmad's statement that the four
\nfigures would not represent the whole nation.<\/p>\n
\"This country is too big for every decision to be taken by two
\nor three persons only,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in Semarang, Central Java, two observers praised
\nAbdurrahman's move as \"brilliant\" and said it was meant only to
\nsave the country from destruction. Sutoyo Abadi of the Diponegoro
\nUniversity and Cahyo Kumolo of Golkar both agreed that despite
\ncriticism, the planned meeting should go ahead. (imn\/har)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/icmi-and-1966-activists-against-national-dialog-1447893297",
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