ICMI jump onto anti-Soeharto bandwagon<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Indonesian Moslem
\nIntellectuals (ICMI) jumped on the bandwagon of criticism
\nyesterday as it denounced its own patron, former president
\nSoeharto, for establishing a brittle state system which shunned
\npublic participation.<\/p>\n
The results of a three-day ICMI national coordinating meeting
\nwhich were announced yesterday slammed the Soeharto
\nadministration, saying it created an apathetic and faltering
\nsociety due to restrictive measures and lack of political
\ncommunication.<\/p>\n
\"The policies of the New Order government under Bapak Soeharto
\ndid not involve people's participation,\" said Achmad Zaki Siradj,
\nchairman of meeting's organizing committee, while reading out the
\nresults of the meeting.<\/p>\n
He added that years of authoritarianism and political
\narrogance had instilled a sense of fear, thus stemming the
\npeople's ability to freely express their will.<\/p>\n
Also present at the announcement of the results of the meeting
\nwere executive chairman Achmad Tirtosudiro, deputy secretary-
\ngeneral's Jimly Asshidiqie and Nasir Tamara.<\/p>\n
With Habibie, who chaired ICMI since its inception in Malang,
\nEast Java, in 1990, at the helm, the association has gone from
\nstrength to strength.<\/p>\n
At one stage, ICMI was considered to have so much clout that
\nit was able to influence the recruitment of Cabinet ministers.<\/p>\n
Up until the past three months it was recognized as a
\ndedicated grouping loyal to Soeharto, with advisory and executive
\nboards comprised of top government officials.<\/p>\n
With Soeharto as its patron, members were kept on a short
\nleash. One example is when the head of ICMI's Council of Experts,
\nAmien Rais, was forced to resign from his post last year due to
\nhis criticism of Soeharto.<\/p>\n
Amien over the weekend was reinstated in his ICMI post.<\/p>\n
Less than two weeks prior to Soeharto's eventual resignation,
\nat a time when the reform movement peaked, ICMI showed signs of
\nbreaking ranks when executive chairman Achmad Tirtosudiro and
\nsecretary-general Adi Sasono called for an extraordinary session
\nof the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and a Cabinet
\nreshuffle.<\/p>\n
However Habibie, who at the time was still vice president,
\ncame to Soeharto's defense, saying the statement was made in a
\npersonal capacity and did not reflect ICMI's position.<\/p>\n
Habibie asserted that the association did not discuss or put
\npolitical issues on its agenda.<\/p>\n
Neglect<\/p>\n
In its statement yesterday, it continually laid the blame of
\nthe nation's woes on Soeharto's New Order government, but
\nneglected to mention the fact that Habibie was a confidant of the
\nformer president and a Cabinet minister since 1978.<\/p>\n
In lamenting the \"state of mind\" produced by the Soeharto era,
\nICMI said that even though the New Order government was gone, the
\npeople were so conditioned that they lacked the ability to
\nimprovise to develop a new democratic political paradigm.<\/p>\n
In the economic field, ICMI said the New Order had only
\ncreated disparity and social jealousy.<\/p>\n
The nation's economic resources, which should have been used
\nfor the greater benefit of the people, were merely exploited for
\nan elite few, the association said.<\/p>\n
In the legal field, the New Order also interfered and bent the
\nlaw for its own purposes, ICMI said, adding that the social
\noutrage and looting currently occurring were a manifestation of
\nthe long-felt frustration over injustices.<\/p>\n
Speaking to journalists over ICMI's continued ties with
\nHabibie, executive chairman Achmad claimed that ICMI was not
\nurging Habibie to continue as president after next year's
\nelections.<\/p>\n
\"ICMI considers Habibie (as president) now until 1999,\" he
\nsaid as quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
\"ICMI will support Habibie if the people nominate him during
\nthe General Session of the MPR in 1999\".<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/icmi-jump-onto-anti-soeharto-bandwagon-1447893297",
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