Moslem groups are united on Arqam ban<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): All the major Moslem organizations in Indonesia
\nare united in their wish to see the Malaysia-based Al Arqam
\nmovement banned from the country, Minister of Religious Affairs
\nTarmizi Taher announced yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"They all agreed to the ban. The Moslem community need not get
\nconfused over this matter,\" Tarmizi said following the
\npresentation of meritorious service awards at the State Palace
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
Tarmizi said that leaders of the Indonesian Ulema Council
\n(MUI) in Jakarta and the region all want to see the Darul Arqam,
\nas the organization is known here, outlawed, but will let the
\ngovernment decide on the precise reason for the ban.<\/p>\n
The council is an umbrella group for all Moslem organizations
\nin Indonesia.<\/p>\n
He conceded that there were disagreements as to why Al Arqam
\nshould be outlawed.<\/p>\n
Some groups suggested that the movement's teachings have
\ndeviated from Islamic principles. Others who see nothing
\nparticularly wrong with the teachings agreed to the ban because
\nAl Arqam is causing political instability, he said.<\/p>\n
The Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia's largest Moslem
\norganization, made an about face on Saturday over the question of
\nwhether Al Arqam should be outlawed. On Friday, it publicly
\nannounced its opposition to banning the movement, at least on
\nreligious grounds. On Saturday, it decided to join the call for
\nthe ban.<\/p>\n
Outlaw<\/p>\n
The MUI has been at the forefront in calling for the ban since
\nMalaysia, where the movement had originated, outlawed the group
\nearly this month. Arqam's spiritual leader Anshaari Mohammad,
\ncurrently in exile in Jordan, has vowed to challenge the
\nleadership of Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad.<\/p>\n
The Attorney General's office is expected to make its ruling
\nthis month, and the MUI's view is expected to weigh heavily on
\nits decision. The government has already declared Anshaari
\npersona non grata on Indonesian soil and banned three of the
\nArqam's books.<\/p>\n
Arqam leaders in Indonesia have made a last ditch attempt to
\nprevent a government ban by offering to hold dialogs with all the
\nparties concerned. MUI turned down the offer while NU accepted
\nand held a meeting last Friday. The group is believed to have
\nthousands of followers throughout Indonesia, mostly among the
\neducated elite.<\/p>\n
Tarmizi said his ministry has been monitoring the activities
\nof Al Arqam in Indonesia for the last six years.<\/p>\n
\"The presence of Al Arqam is already causing public disorder
\nin many regions. It has even reached West Nusa Tenggara,\" he
\nsaid. (emb)<\/p>",
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