ICMI offers itself as 'glue' to Islamic parties<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The influential Association of Indonesian Muslim
\nIntellectuals (ICMI) campaigned Sunday for the unity of Muslim
\npolitical parties, offering itself as the \"glue\" to bring them
\nall together.<\/p>\n
ICMI executives said here that a \"caucus\" of Islamic parties
\nwas a \"very urgent\" need in order to promote Muslim brotherhood
\nand to prepare for a new government after the elections.<\/p>\n
Without referring to President B.J. Habibie, its former
\nchairman, ICMI's statement said: \"... there is a need (for
\nleaders of the Islamic political parties) to look for and
\ndetermine a figure who is the most plausible national leader.\"<\/p>\n
But ICMI acting chairman Achmad Tirtosudiro added the
\norganization would be ready to lend support to \"whoever becomes
\nthe president\" after a free and fair general election.<\/p>\n
He said the organization had started lobbying key figures of
\nthe concerned parties.<\/p>\n
Out of 48 political parties ready to vie for seats in the
\nHouse of Representatives and regional legislatures in the June
\npolls, there are at least 10 parties which are Islamic-orientated
\nby party name and five others citing Islam as their only
\nprinciple in their party statutes.<\/p>\n
Observers say that two other major parties, the National
\nAwakening Party (PKB) under renowned figure Abdurrahman \"Gus Dur\"
\nWahid and the National Mandate Party (PAN) under leading reform
\nfigure Amien Rais symbolize the country's Muslim mainstream
\ngroups.<\/p>\n
The two latter parties have nominated their leading figures as
\npresident. Another strong poll contender claiming to enjoy wide
\nMuslim support, the Crescent Star Party (PBB), has nominated its
\nchairman Yusril Ihza Mahendra as its candidate.<\/p>\n
In the statement summarizing results of the organization's
\nthree-day national coordination meeting here ICMI said: \"Among
\nthose Islamic-orientated parties, ICMI positions itself as a glue
\nwhich keeps the same distance from each (parties)\" and was ready
\nto work with them.<\/p>\n
Set up in 1990, ICMI, which comprises intellectuals and
\nleading politicians and officials, also said Indonesia needs
\ndevelopment orientated to Islam.<\/p>\n
Pancasila<\/p>\n
\"Efforts to develop a society based on Pancasila (state
\nideology) through partial and sectoral means, especially
\nmaterialism and individualism, have failed -- mainly from the
\naspect of justice.\"<\/p>\n
Islam-oriented development among other things would lead to
\n\"low consumption rates, high savings, intensive resources
\nmanagement and a just, honest and efficient social-economic
\nprocess.\"<\/p>\n
ICMI also declared it supported the government's move to
\nnormalize the riot-torn Ambon city while calling for the
\ngovernment to be transparent in announcing fatalities in the
\ncommunal conflict, which some believed be far above the official
\nfigures of 182 deaths.<\/p>\n
ICMI urged East Timorese to be \"realistic\" in making their
\ndecision over Indonesia's alternatives for a settlement over the
\ntroubled territory.<\/p>\n
It also urged the government to bring about a more balanced
\nstate budget in Irian Jaya and West Kalimantan. (aan)<\/p>",
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