Intellectual body forms new branch<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Around 50 intellectuals established the Jakarta
\nbranch of the Association of Intellectuals for Pancasila
\nDevelopment (PCPP) yesterday, featuring a series of powerful
\nnames as advisors.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the BP7 agency for the propagation of Pancasila
\nstate ideology R. Soeprapto, business tycoon Soekamdani Sahid
\nGitosardjono, legislator and businessman A.A. Baramuli,
\nbureaucrat Payaman Simanjuntak, and senior journalist Samsul
\nBahri will join the 30-member board of advisors.<\/p>\n
The branch will be chaired by Mohammad Bambang Sulistomo, son
\nof the late freedom fighter Bung Tomo. Bambang will be assisted
\nby two deputies, Bambang Diponegoro and Eddy Sjafuan, and six
\nother persons. The branch currently has 45 members.<\/p>\n
In a press conference yesterday, PCPP Jakarta announced the
\nrationale for its establishment and a pledge to \"be independent
\nfrom any socio-political interest groupings\".<\/p>\n
\"Intellectuals will always maintain a harmonious partnership
\nwith the power holders,\" Eddy read from the organization's
\nstatement.<\/p>\n
\"In the intellectual view, power is a mandate of the people,
\nand should be dedicated to the interests of the people and the
\nnation,\" he said. \"Intellectuals should be responsible since
\ntheir thoughts and ideas can cause social and political impacts
\non the nation's life.\"<\/p>\n
Bambang said the birth of the organization is \"a historical
\nnecessity\" and that the community should open its arms and not
\ncondemn its existence too hastily.<\/p>\n
Bambang and his deputies used the media briefing yesterday to
\nconvince reporters that there was no political power behind the
\nbirth of the PCPP and to announce that it has yet to designate
\nthe chairman of its national board.<\/p>\n
\"The first PCPP congress will define what we mean by
\n'intellectuals' and we believe that intellectuals can be found
\nanywhere, including from among government officials,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He dismissed suggestions that the organization should refrain
\nfrom electing a senior government official, possibly a cabinet
\nminister, as chairman to prove its political independence.<\/p>\n
\"Let's just respect any individual's right (to be elected
\nchairman),\" Bambang said.<\/p>\n
The activists also attempted to allay speculations that PCPP
\nwas established to check the growing power and influence of the
\nIndonesian Association of Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI).<\/p>\n
As for whether PCPP will be \"used\" by the power holders to
\nfurther their interests, Bambang said the members would do their
\nbest to avoid political entanglements, though they will not
\nprevent members from assuming political positions in other
\ninstitutions.<\/p>\n
\"Any citizen has the right to enter politics, but we,
\nintellectuals, are more concerned with how to uphold justice,
\ntruth, and maintain national unity,\" Bambang said.<\/p>\n
\"Any organization of intellectuals will naturally draw
\nattention. If anyone is interested in joining us, by all means,\"
\nhe said. \"We will not prohibit politics, but we'll try not to be
\ninvolved in political games which can disturb the running of
\npower (in the country).\"<\/p>\n
The founders of the organization will hold a pre-congress
\nmeeting next month in Purwokerto, Central Java. The congress
\nproper will be held in November in Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
The founders had earlier mentioned Minister of Transmigration
\nSiswono Yudohusodo as one of their first choices for chairman to
\ngive the new organization national stature. Siswono said he would
\ndecline if the job were offered to him.<\/p>\n
Other possible candidates include Gen. (ret.) Edi Sudradjat,
\nthe Minister of Defense and Security, and Sarwono Kusumaatmadja,
\nthe State Minister of Environment and former secretary-general of
\nthe ruling Golkar.<\/p>\n
The organization has been without a chairman since it was
\nestablished in July by a group of intellectuals from Jenderal
\nSudirman University in Purwokerto, Central Java.<\/p>\n
The PCPP's inception is widely seen as a challenge to existing
\norganizations of intellectuals, whose memberships are based on
\nreligion.<\/p>\n
The most prominent of these established groups is ICMI, which
\nis headed by State Minister of Research and Technology B.J.
\nHabibie. The other three major intellectual groups are the
\nChristian PIKI, the Buddhist KCBI and the Catholic ISKI. (swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/intellectual-body-forms-new-branch-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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