ICMI wants to work with non-Islamic groupings<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Chairman of the Association of Moslem
\nIntellectuals (ICMI) B.J. Habibie Saturday emphasized the need
\nfor ICMI to strengthen cooperation with organizations of other
\nfaiths.<\/p>\n
Speaking on the second day of ICMI's annual congress here
\nSaturday, Habibie said cooperation with other organizations of
\nintellectuals -- such as the Catholic ISKI, the Protestant PIKI
\nand the Hindu FCHI -- was a must. This was because all had the
\ncommon goal of improving the spiritual and intellectual lives of
\nIndonesians and all had accepted Pancasila, the state ideology,
\nas the basis of their respective organizations.<\/p>\n
Although total cooperation might not be achieved because of
\nreligious or dogmatic reasons, common concerns could bring the
\norganizations together in cooperative projects, Habibie pointed
\nout.<\/p>\n
Members of ICMI, he said, should encourage openness to promote
\nbetter understanding among organizations.<\/p>\n
"But mere openness is not enough, as we have to give correct,
\ntransparent and clear information," he said.<\/p>\n
He added that openness should not be seen as "a total
\nnakedness because all organizations have the right to keep their
\nlittle secrets".<\/p>\n
ICMI currently has a local branch in each of Indonesia's 27
\nprovinces, and a 28th branch in Bogor, West Java, which embraces
\na considerable number of Moslem intellectuals.<\/p>\n
Habibie said that ICMI, which was established in 1990, had no
\nintention of competing with other Moslem groups such as Nahdlatul
\nUlama, the largest organization with most of its members in
\nremote villages of Central and East Java, and Muhammadiyah, which
\nruns schools and Moslem education centers throughout the country.<\/p>\n
A catalyst<\/p>\n
"ICMI is in fact a catalyst for all these groups," Habibie
\nsaid, pointing out that many noted members of these organizations
\nwere, in their personal capacity, also members of ICMI.<\/p>\n
ICMI, during the three years that it has been in existence,
\nhas grown into a strong social and political force in this
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
ICMI members include high-ranking officials in the ministerial
\ncabinet as well as leading Moslem individuals. President
\nSoeharto, in his private capacity, became ICMI's chief patron
\nlast year.<\/p>\n
Habibie admitted that ICMI's strong influence has caused
\ncertain people to use their membership in the organization as a
\nway to advance their own personal interests.<\/p>\n
"I won't mention any names, but I know who these people
\nare...the list is on my desk," he said.<\/p>\n
"It is these people whose spiritual attitudes need to be
\nupgraded... They have to understand that if they are not
\nqualified for a job, then they cannot have it just because they
\nare a member of ICMI," Habibie said.<\/p>\n
He said that ICMI's objectives were to fight ignorance and
\npoverty among Moslems and that it did not belong to a particular
\npolitical group. (pwn)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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