'Issues of social, political order a test for ICMI role'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's contention with issues of social and
\npolitical order will test the mettle of the Indonesian
\nAssociation of Moslem Intellectuals and its role in the process
\nof national development, a scholar said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Nurcholish Madjid told a two-day discussion entitled ICMI and
\nthe face of Indonesia in the future that various changes in both
\nthe social and political structures and processes signify
\nmovement toward a new order as the older, colonial order fades
\naway.<\/p>\n
\"The forward move cannot be prevented, because of the
\nexistence of a number of factors, especially in the form of the
\nnation's success in education and economy,\" Nurcholish said.<\/p>\n
The modern ideals of the nation -- justice, openness and
\ndemocracy -- will soon become \"urgent agendas for national social
\nand political development\", he said.<\/p>\n
In this context, the values of the Indonesian Association of
\nMoslem Intellectuals (ICMI) will be determined by its role in the
\nmovement, he said.<\/p>\n
The discussion was held in advance of the organization's
\nsecond national congress, which will be staged at a cost of over
\nRp 2 billion (US$890,000). To be opened by President Soeharto in
\nDecember, the congress will be joined by a total of 1,000 leading
\nmembers.<\/p>\n
Analysts say that incumbent chairman B.J. Habibie, who is also
\nState Minister of Research and Technology, will most likely
\nretain his position.<\/p>\n
ICMI was established in 1990. It has since gone from strength
\nto strength, obtaining not only the support of President Soeharto
\nand cabinet ministers, but also community leaders across the
\ncountry. The organization is considered to have great political
\nclout and proponents say it is instrumental in helping usher in a
\nnew era of improved relations between the Islamic community and
\nthe government.<\/p>\n
During yesterday and Saturday's discussions, ICMI, which has
\nfor some time been criticized as functioning merely as a
\n\"political vehicle\" for interests groups, found itself to be the
\ntarget of great expectations. Many, for instance, are now asking
\nthe organization to propel democratization, foster social justice
\nand to be more sensitive toward the people's aspirations.<\/p>\n
Conviction<\/p>\n
In addition to Nurcholish, human rights campaigners Marzuki
\nDarusman and Mulyana W. Kusuma, and former student activist Eki
\nSyachruddin, all expressed their conviction that ICMI could do
\nmore in the interest of the nation.<\/p>\n
Mulyana, who is the executive director of the Indonesian Legal
\nAid Foundation, said that ICMI, often dubbed as the product of
\n\"Islamic revivalism\", is expected to contribute in the campaign
\nto equip the nation with international standards for human rights
\nprotection.<\/p>\n
\"It should play a part in...realizing the development of human
\nrights...and political reforms,\" Mulyana said.<\/p>\n
Mulyana identified several other agendas that ICMI should
\nconsider in the near future, including ways to make progress on
\nthe much-debated issue of political openness.<\/p>\n
\"ICMI can start by launching the politics of tension-release,
\nat least within the frame of de-escalating repression and
\nrestriction,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The organization, currently led by bureaucrats, should also
\nstrive to widen political communication, review existing legal
\ninstruments, and examine the political control strategies of the
\nstate which repress human rights, he said.<\/p>\n
\"The proximity of ICMI to state institutions and,
\nconsequently, its stronger access to the power center, provides
\ngreat opportunities (for it) to establish more comprehensive
\npolicies on human rights,\" he said. (swe)<\/p>\n
Press -- Page 2<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/issues-of-social-political-order-a-test-for-icmi-role-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }