Moslem student association's independence questioned<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): Despite the absence of prominent speakers,
\nthe second day of the Association of Islamic Students (HMI)
\ncongress saw a lively discussion on members' concern over the
\norganization's independence.<\/p>\n
The proximity of some of Indonesia's Islamic organizations,
\nincluding HMI, to the country's center of power, was among the
\ntopics discussed at the 21st congress of HMI.<\/p>\n
Some participants cited a number of HMI alumni who were part
\nof the government bureaucracy during a morning session attended
\nby Syafii Maarif, a political historian of the Yogyakarta-based
\nTeachers Training and Education Institute (IKIP) yesterday.<\/p>\n
Syafii substituted for former HMI chairman Nurcholish Madjid
\nand constitutional law expert Yusril Ihza Mahendra in the
\nsession.<\/p>\n
A participant from Sorong, Irian Jaya, criticized the largest
\nMoslem student organization for its failure to stand up to the
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
\"HMI has kept quiet and has done nothing about government
\nofficials' misconduct,\" said the participant.<\/p>\n
However, Syafii said there should not be any problem about the
\norganization's closeness with those in power as long as its
\nmembers were able to stand up and speak out.<\/p>\n
Close ties should be inconsequential as long as HMI can still
\ncampaign for justice and the truth, he said.<\/p>\n
The organization was established in Yogyakarta in 1947 and has
\nseen its members grow in stature and become important public
\nfigures.<\/p>\n
The congress also discussed the growing rift within the
\norganization. Syafii offered to mediate if the organization's
\nexecutive board asked him to. \"I'm willing to act as mediator in
\nHMI's internal dispute,\" said Syafii, who is also deputy chairman
\nof the Muhammadiyah Moslem organization.<\/p>\n
The leadership of HMI is currently divided into two factions.
\nThe government-recognized faction is led by Taufik Hidayat, but a
\ngroup of activists recently set up a breakaway faction and called
\nitself the Council of HMI Saviors.<\/p>\n
Syafii, however, believed the rift would not pose a threat to
\nthe organization's existence.<\/p>\n
\"The dispute only affects HMI's leaders at the executive board
\nlevel. It does not touch the association's chapters and
\nbranches,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said there was a harmonious relationship between the two
\ndisputed factions at the HMI Bandung chapter.<\/p>\n
\"Officials and members of the Bandung chapter meet and share
\nideas regularly. They do not quarrel as some people think,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Some prominent speakers failed to appear in the second day of
\nthe one-week long congress. Besides Nurcholish and Yusril, Armed
\nForces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung and State Minister of National
\nDevelopment Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita were also scheduled
\nbut failed to appear at yesterday's sessions.<\/p>\n
Due to the speakers' absence, the organizers then idled the
\ncongress away for five hours. The same thing happened on the
\nfirst day of the congress on Wednesday, when participants were
\nleft with nothing to do for six hours after the opening session.<\/p>\n
As a consequence of the poor time management, the participants
\nonly started to discuss congressional regulations last night. The
\ndiscussion on regulations had been scheduled for Wednesday
\nevening.<\/p>\n
Also yesterday, the congress organizers barred reporters from
\nthe venue.<\/p>\n
The second day of the congress also saw interest groups
\ndistributing invitations for meetings, leaflets and statements,
\nseeking the participants' sympathy and support for their
\nchairmanship candidates.<\/p>\n
The HMI Depok branch organized a press conference at nearby
\nPringsewu Park Restaurant last night, while some other \"groups\"
\nheld faction meetings within the Bimo Building.<\/p>\n
The proposal of candidates for HMI's 1997\/2000 chairmanship
\nstarted to heat up yesterday. Names mentioned as potential
\nchairpersons were Anas Urbaningrum, Viva Yoga Mauladi and Umar
\nHusen -- all incumbent deputies to the HMI chairman. Also
\nincluded on the list was Teuku Syahrul Anshari of the HMI Central
\nJava chapter. (23\/swa\/imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/moslem-student-associations-independence-questioned-1447893297",
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