MUI pledges to engage in self-introspection: Yafie<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The influential Indonesian Council of Ulemas
\n(MUI) marked its 24th anniversary on Tuesday by promising to
\nengage in self-introspection and redefine its position in
\nIndonesian society.<\/p>\n
Chairman Ali Yafie told Antara the council had now entered a
\nperiod of redefinition, and a reaffirmation of its role as
\nkhadimul ummat (the servant of the people).<\/p>\n
\"The council will remain steadfast in its duty, namely to
\nprovide guidance,\" he said, adding that by reasserting its role
\nas the servant of the people, the council would always be ready
\nto serve the interests of all people from all walks of life.<\/p>\n
\"Please come and ask us all kinds of problems. You may be
\nmilitary personnel, teachers or others. We will do our best for
\nyou,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Yafie said the council, which will hold its four-day congress
\nstarting on Friday, would never become khadimul istana or the
\nservant of the palace. \"The congress will hopefully produce a new
\nparadigm, which will differ greatly from the old one.\"<\/p>\n
Established by Soeharto's New Order government, the council
\nwas first chaired by one of Indonesia's most esteemed ulema,
\nnamely Buya Hamka. The late Buya (Father) was known for his
\ncourage to resist Soeharto's pressure at the height of the
\nlatter's power; he resigned in the early 1980s over an edict on
\nMuslims celebrating Christmas.<\/p>\n
Over the course of its existence, however, the council was
\nalso often known as a tool of the government. In the later years
\nof Soeharto's 32-year tenure, for instance, the council was often
\ncriticized because it supported the government's repression of
\nMuslim groups.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, Yafie called on Muslims to understand that reforms
\nmust be launched without sacrificing the country's safety,
\nnational unity and democratization.<\/p>\n
\"We need people to understand one another so clashes can be
\navoided,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The congress will discuss a range of contemporary issues,
\nincluding pornography, gambling and women presidents.(edt\/swe)<\/p>",
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