Jakarta Charter<\/p>\n
From Neraca<\/p>\n
An opinion article published in the Neraca daily on Aug. 15,
\n2000, titled Discourse on the Jakarta Charter, prompted me to
\nagree, particularly, with Muslim intellectual Dr. Nurcholish
\nMadjid (or Cak Nur as he is popularly referred to) for his brief
\nargument that Article 29 of the Constitution of 1945 is actually
\nbased on the Holy Koran.<\/p>\n
Moderate Muslims will find it easy to agree that the seven
\nwords contained in the Jakarta Charter need not be incorporated
\nin the Constitution proper because in Islam matters pertaining to
\nacknowledgement of God's oneness are already clear while the
\nentire system of Islamic law is also already well-structured.
\nMentioned or not, the Koran and hadiths, collection of stories
\nrelating words or deeds of Muhammad, will always be the life
\nprinciple to Muslims.<\/p>\n
As for the hard-liners, it is hoped that Cak Nur's opinion
\nwill somewhat soften their noble stance. To agree to the
\nexclusion of the seven words of the Jakarta Charter from the
\nConstitution, in the past and at present, does not necessarily
\nmean that the struggle of the Muslims suffers a defeat. Instead,
\nthe magnanimity of the Indonesian Muslims has substantially
\ncontributed to the existence of this state.<\/p>\n
If the "sly" bluff once made by Maramis to the effect that the
\neastern regions of Indonesia will secede from the Republic of
\nIndonesia if the Jakarta Charter is incorporated into the
\nConstitution is repeated with the desire of Irian Jaya and Aceh
\nto separate from the Republic of Indonesia, Indonesian Muslims
\nare certainly not to blame. In other words, the struggle of
\nIndonesian Muslims during Indonesia's years of independence will
\nnot be futile if this republic is threatened with disintegration.<\/p>\n
It is true that factually Indonesia is a law-based state, a
\nform of statehood adopted from the West, but it is also true that
\nimplicitly the Islamic canon strongly prevails in the lives of
\nthe majority of Indonesians. This shows that Indonesian Muslims
\nare magnanimous people who do not force upon others their own
\nwishes. God willing, this magnanimity will be the Indonesian
\nMuslims' biggest contribution, for the second time, to ensuring
\nthe existence and integrity of the Indonesian nation.<\/p>\n
Now that regional autonomy is being allowed, provinces or
\ndistricts wishing to apply the Islamic canon to their people may
\ndo so. The Special Region of Aceh is an example in this respect.
\nSo, what is the use of amending something which is already in a
\ncorrect and noble position?<\/p>\n
If the debates on the Jakarta Charter are confined only to
\ndiscourse to serve as a reminder of the greatness of the spirit
\nof the Muslims, who make up the majority of the Indonesian
\npopulation, this is wise enough. Thank God, we are still united.<\/p>\n
ABDILLAH KAMIL<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jakarta-charter-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }