ICMI defends Saefuddin over Hindu defamation<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The influential Association of Indonesian Moslem
\nIntellectuals (ICMI) came to the defense of its member State
\nMinister of Food and Horticulture A.M. Saefuddin on Tuesday,
\nsaying he had not intended any ill will when he made recent
\nremarks Hindus have considered offensive.<\/p>\n
Acting ICMI chairman Achmad Tirtosudiro, accompanied by
\nassociation executives including Parni Hadi and Jimly
\nAsshiddiqqie, convened a media conference to speak about, among
\nother things, the growing calls from the Balinese and many others
\nthat President B.J. Habibie dismiss Saefuddin over the remarks.<\/p>\n
\"ICMI cannot agree to the dismissal of (Saefuddin),\"
\nTirtosudiro said. \"If (Habibie) dismisses Saefuddin, then next
\ntime, there could be other (ministers sacked just because of
\npeople's demands).<\/p>\n
\"I know Saefuddin very well and I know he did not mean to
\ninsult other beliefs,\" Tirtosudiro said of the minister who is a
\nmember of the ICMI council of experts and an executive of the
\nMoslem-based United Development Party (PPP).<\/p>\n
\"ICMI therefore joins Saefuddin in his apology to Hindus,\" he
\nsaid. \"We respect other faiths.\"<\/p>\n
Achmad clarified that Saefuddin, in an interview with
\nreporters at the state secretariat two weeks ago, had only asked
\nwhat would happen if the next presidential candidate was a person
\nwho adhered to two religions.<\/p>\n
He was referring to the chairwoman of the splintered
\nIndonesian Democratic Party (PDI), Megawati Soekarnoputri, who
\nhas been pictured several times praying in Hindu temples in Bali.<\/p>\n
Saefuddin also said predominantly Moslem Indonesia would not
\ntolerate a Hindu president. The remarks offended the
\npredominantly Hindu Balinese who then went on street
\ndemonstrations demanding that the minister be dismissed.<\/p>\n
Their call received support from various quarters. Former
\nminister of home affairs Rudini urged Habibie on Tuesday to take
\nstrong action against Saefuddin.<\/p>\n
Habibie has refused to bow to the calls, saying he would not
\nreshuffle his cabinet and that he was satisfied with all of his
\nministers' performance.<\/p>\n
Rudini conceded that it was Habibie's prerogative to either
\nretain or dismiss Saefuddin. \"But, in this reform era, the
\nPresident should be responsive to people's aspirations,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Let. Gen. Agum Gumelar, governor of the National Resilience
\nInstitute, the military's think-tank, called for peace and an end
\nto the matter.<\/p>\n
He said Saefuddin's apology should be enough, but that
\ndismissal was an alternative.<\/p>\n
However, he warned that the case could be manipulated by
\ncertain parties seeking to further their own political interests.<\/p>\n
Faisal Baasir, a legislator of the United Development Party
\n(PPP) faction, warned on Tuesday of counter protests from Moslem
\ngroups who supported Saefuddin.<\/p>\n
He said several Moslem groups in Jakarta had started the
\ncampaign to counter anti-Saefuddin protests in Bali.<\/p>\n
\"Several Moslem groups in Lombok have also begun staging
\ncounter protests against the Balinese people's excessive reaction
\n(to Saefuddin's remarks),\" he said in Mataram, West Nusa
\nTenggara.<\/p>\n
Faisal, chairman of House Commission II for home affairs, was
\nin Mataram with the commission on a five-day field tour.<\/p>\n
\"The (Balinese) reaction is excessive. The case should have
\nended with Saefuddin's apology,\" he said.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, a group of 15 Moslem youths staged a demonstration
\nnear the House of Representatives compound. A banner held by a
\ndemonstrator read Jangan memaksa kami melakukan jihad (Do not
\nforce us to launch a holy war).<\/p>\n
Saleh Khalid, another PPP legislator, urged Megawati to
\nrespond by stating her religion to the public.<\/p>\n
\"Megawati should not keep her silence. She has a moral
\nresponsibility to clarify her faith. If she adheres to Islam why
\ndid she attend a Hindu ritual? If she was not a Hindu, why did
\nshe not deny (Saefuddin's remarks)?,\" he said. (rms\/swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/icmi-defends-saefuddin-over-hindu-defamation-1447893297",
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