ICMI power links questioned<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The independence of the influential Association
\nof Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI) has been called into
\nquestion following the announcement of its new executive board.<\/p>\n
Political observer Arbi Sanit of the University of Indonesia,
\nwho is not an ICMI member, and legislator A.M. Saefuddin, who is
\na leading ICMI member, expressed apprehension over ICMI's links
\nto the administration.<\/p>\n
Dr. Ahmad Totonji, a Moslem leader from the United States,
\ndisagreed, saying ICMI is needed if Indonesian Moslems are to
\ntake center stage after years of being \"marginalized\".<\/p>\n
Arbi told The Jakarta Post yesterday that the strong presence
\nof Golkar members on ICMI's new executive board could mean an
\neven greater involvement of the organization in national
\npolitics.<\/p>\n
\"ICMI could become (Golkar) machinery for political
\nmobilization among Moslems,\" Arbi said.<\/p>\n
Ardi said he believed some sort of bargain may have been
\nstruck between Golkar and ICMI. \"ICMI may act as machinery to
\nmobilize support for Golkar in exchange for greater political
\naccess,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"It's like ICMI has been coopted by Golkar,\" he said,
\nacknowledging ICMI has been closely linked to the power holders
\nsince its inception five years ago. Some members ICMI's board of
\npatrons are also patrons of Golkar.<\/p>\n
The organization concluded its second congress on Saturday. It
\nre-elected as chairman B.J. Habibie, who is also State Minister
\nof Research and Technology as well as a member of Golkar's board
\nof patrons. It also elected former student activist Adi Sasono as
\nsecretary of the 1995-2000 executive board, which Arbi said could
\nbe seen as an effort to \"distribute power between bureaucrats and
\ncivilians\".<\/p>\n
Arbi said another factor which could lead to ICMI's increased
\ninvolvement in politics was the fact that Adi, compared to a
\nnumber of other activists in the organization, was the most
\n\"politically inclined\".<\/p>\n
\"There are members who are just intellectuals, and those who
\nare politically inclined, and Adi represents the second group,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
A different perspective was given by Totonji, who is director
\nof the International Institute of Islamic Thoughts in Virginia,
\nthe United States. He said it is about time Moslems, which make
\nup 88 percent of the population of 190 million, and their
\norganizations were given more attention from the power holders,
\nafter years of standing on the sidelines.<\/p>\n
\"ICMI deserves this kind of importance from the top leaders,
\nas well as other responsible people in the country,\" Totonji, who
\nis here to observe the ICMI congress, told the Post. \"It should
\nindeed be the role of ICMI to bring the full involvement of
\nMoslem intellectuals.<\/p>\n
In many parts of the world, he said, \"Moslems are very much
\nmarginalized. Now they have the opportunity to prove that they
\ncan do much.\"<\/p>\n
Totonji is a frequent visitor here and has been studying
\nMoslems in Indonesia for more than 25 years.<\/p>\n
As for the frequent criticism that ICMI has become too close
\nto the power holders and that it risks becoming a mere political
\ntool, Totonji said the complaint is a reflection of some
\ndissatisfied groups in society.<\/p>\n
\"There's bound to always be certain groups in society who are
\ndissatisfied,\" he said. \"Let's not overemphasize this concern.\"<\/p>\n
Saefuddin, a critic of Habibie's re-election, called on all
\nmembers of the organization to choose someone who is not a
\nbureaucrat or a minister to chair the 2000-2005 executive board.<\/p>\n
\"If it fails to do so, the public will see it as a mere pro-
\nestablishment organization, one which will not be able to attract
\nthe dynamic groups in society such as students, the young people
\nand the people in the lower classes,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"ICMI will also continue to be dependent on figures such as
\nHabibie,\" Saefuddin said.<\/p>\n
\"And people will still see ICMI as identical with Habibie,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Saefuddin himself, despite his forthright criticism, was
\nelected to the board of experts. \"This proves that Habibie is a
\ntrue democrat, he names me to the board despite differences of
\nopinion between us,\" he said. \"I respect him and will be loyal to
\nthe congress decision, though it doesn't mean I will agree with
\neverything (Habibie decides).\"<\/p>\n
Emil Salim, former minister of environment and member of the
\nnew advisory board, expressed a sentiment similar to Totonji's.
\nHe pointed out the futility of viewing ICMI as a power play.<\/p>\n
Instead, he said, there will be a balance in each role the new
\nboard plays. (wpr\/swe)<\/p>\n
Adi Sasono -- Page 2<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/icmi-power-links-questioned-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }