New Masyumi founders establish presidium<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The new Masyumi, a newly-established Moslem
\norganization which has announced its intention to turn itself
\ninto a political party some day, has established a presidium led
\nby its two leading founders.<\/p>\n
Heading the presidium is Ridwan Saidi, while Agus Miftach has
\nbeen appointed secretary, according to a statement signed by Agus
\non Saturday.<\/p>\n
Masyumi stands for Majelis Syarikat Ummat Muslimin Indonesia.
\nIts acronym is the same as that of a leading Moslem political
\nparty of the 1950s, disbanded in 1960, which stood for Majelis
\nSyuro Muslimin Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Ridwan, a Moslem politician who changed allegiance from the
\nUnited Development Party (PPP) to Golkar in the 1980s only to
\nquit the ruling political group later, said on Friday that the
\nnew Masyumi aspires to become a political party.<\/p>\n
He said his organization hopes to represent Moslems whose
\ninterests are not represented by either Golkar, the PPP or the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party (PDI).<\/p>\n
Agus, in his statement on Saturday, said the rest of the seats
\nin the presidium would be filled by those who have come out in
\nsupport of the declaration made on Friday, including some of the
\nactivists of the old Masyumi. Their names would be announced to
\nthe public soon, he added.<\/p>\n
Masyumi is also preparing to open branches in the region and
\nhopes to hold its first congress next year.<\/p>\n
In conformity with the law, the organization is adopting
\nPancasila as its ideology, although Islam is its guiding
\nprinciple. Its symbol will be the crescent and star, the same as
\nthat used by the old Masyumi.<\/p>\n
The government has not yet reacted to the establishment of the
\nnew Masyumi. Under the 1985 law on mass organizations, the group
\nis required to register with the Ministry of Home Affairs.<\/p>\n
The establishment of the new Masyumi has stirred controversy,
\nwith criticisms coming chiefly from the remnants of the old
\nMasyumi, which was disbanded by former Indonesian president
\nSukarno because of its association with an armed rebellion.<\/p>\n
Anwar Haryono, considered the torchbearer of the old Masyumi,
\ndenounced the choice of name by the founders of the new
\norganization, saying that they are confusing the public.<\/p>\n
A.M. Fatwa, a prominent Moslem leader, said the new Masyumi is
\nthe \"most strange\" of all the new organizations that have emerged
\nin recent months using abbreviations or acronyms of defunct
\nparties.<\/p>\n
\"They (the founders of the new Masyumi), cannot articulate
\ntheir motives,\" Fatwa said in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra.<\/p>\n
He said he could not see the point of the new Masyumi.
\n\"Moslems already have many institutions,\" he said.<\/p>\n
There was confusion about the inclusion of a number of public
\nfigures in the list of \"supporters\" of the new Masyumi.<\/p>\n
Vocal politician Sri Bintang Pamungkas, one of the names on
\nthe list, said he had not been consulted by the founders but
\nwould support any organization that is \"anti-establishment.\"<\/p>\n
Environmental activist S. Indro Tjahjono, also on the list,
\ngave a cautious welcome to the new organization, saying that the
\nconstitution guarantees freedom of association.<\/p>\n
Indro said, however, that his support should not be
\ninterpreted as a willingness to be included on the group's
\nexecutive board.<\/p>\n
Another name on the list is that of Abdurrahman Wahid, a
\nprominent and often-controversial Moslem scholar and chairman of
\nthe 30-million-strong Nahdlatul Ulama. Abdurrahman, however, told
\nthe Kompas daily from Sydney, Australia, on Saturday that he had
\nnever given his \"blessing\" to the new organization or made any
\ncommitment to support it.<\/p>\n
Sabam Sirait, a legislator who chairs the New Parkindo, a
\nChristian organization named after a defunct Christian party,
\ndefended in general terms the emergence of new organizations in
\nIndonesia, citing article 28 of the Constitution, which
\nguarantees freedom of association and expression.<\/p>\n
\"I am happy at the establishment of new organizations which
\nare concerned about the condition of our society,\" Sabam said.<\/p>\n
He added that Parkindo is ready to work together with other
\norganizations, including the new Masyumi. (emb\/mds\/anr)<\/p>",
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