ICMI calls for end to attacks on Habibie<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Indonesian Moslem
\nIntellectuals (ICMI) called for an end to the attacks on
\nPresident B.J. Habibie's legitimacy yesterday, saying he should
\nbe given a chance to govern and implement reforms.<\/p>\n
ICMI acting chairman Achmad Tirtosudiro told reporters that
\nHabibie had been unfairly criticized for the country's economic
\nturmoil, which he said was essentially the legacy of the previous
\ngovernment under president Soeharto.<\/p>\n
\"Habibie's presidency is legitimate,\" Achmad said, citing
\nArticle 8 of the 1945 Constitution which stipulates that should
\nthe president pass away, resign or become incapacitated, he or
\nshe would be replaced by the vice president.<\/p>\n
\"We need to convey this because there are people who are still
\ndisputing Habibie's legitimacy,\" Achmad said at a news conference
\nat his office attended by ICMI leaders Adi Sasono, who is also
\nMinister of Cooperatives and Small Enterprises, Nasir Tamara,
\nParni Hadi and Setyanto P. Santosa.<\/p>\n
Habibie, who is technically still chairman of ICMI, assumed
\nthe presidency when Soeharto resigned from office on May 21.
\nHabibie was then the vice president.<\/p>\n
Achmad called on the public to be fair since Habibie had shown
\na commitment to reform through a series of decisions in a
\nrelatively short period of time.<\/p>\n
\"He has done a lot of things within three weeks,\" Achmad said,
\nciting the formation of the Cabinet, the revision of political
\nlaws and the release political prisoners as examples.<\/p>\n
When asked whether ICMI had taken such a position simply
\nbecause of its ties to Habibie, Achmad said: \"We may be close,
\nbut we don't kowtow to the government.\"<\/p>\n
\"If he is right, what's wrong with defending him?\" he asked.<\/p>\n
He said for ICMI, the most important thing was the interest of
\nthe country and its people.<\/p>\n
Achmad said certain people had been trying to overthrow
\nHabibie, but he declined to identify them.<\/p>\n
\"What is their basis? Is it because they don't like Habibie
\npersonally, or do they think they could do better?\" he said.<\/p>\n
Achmad appealed to the public to give Habibie and his
\ngovernment a chance, especially given that the new President
\nalready had an agenda and a timetable for certain reforms.<\/p>\n
He said ICMI fully supported the plan to hold an extraordinary
\nsession of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) in December
\nto set a new date for national elections.<\/p>\n
\"There should be only one agenda and that is to bring up the
\ngeneral election from 2002 to 1999,\" Achmad said.<\/p>\n
Habibie and House Speaker Harmoko agreed last month to hold an
\nextraordinary session of the MPR at the end of this year or early
\nnext year, with the sole aim to set a new poll date.<\/p>\n
Former House speaker Wahono said earlier this month that
\nHabibie was not a legitimate president since the new executive
\nlacked a mandate from the Assembly. (byg)<\/p>",
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