'Openness' must be seen in cultural context<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung asked the
\npowerful Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI) to
\nshare the responsibility for safeguarding national unity.<\/p>\n
\"Ensuring national integration is the responsibility of all
\ncitizens, including ICMI,\" the general said when addressing a
\nnational workshop of the organization here on Saturday.<\/p>\n
He called on ICMI and other organizations to promote
\ntolerance, solidarity and patriotism and warned that a religious-
\nbased organization had the danger of becoming a disintegrative
\nfactor.<\/p>\n
Established in December 1990 with strong endorsement of
\nPresident Soeharto, ICMI is often criticized as sectarian
\norganization nurturing political interests of its members.<\/p>\n
Opening the three-day workshop on Friday night, ICMI chairman
\nB.J. Habibie reiterated his denial of the allegation, saying that
\nthe organization served the interest of the whole nation.<\/p>\n
The three-day workshop attended by about 450 ICMI members from
\nacross Indonesia and foreign branches tried to identify the
\nchallenges, problems, alternatives and chances of the
\ndevelopment.<\/p>\n
Feisal reminded all socio-political organizations in Indonesia
\non the need to understand the blowing wind of political openness
\nin the local context.<\/p>\n
He said that the openness should also be pursued in the
\nIndonesian way, such as avoiding criticizing people in public
\nbecause the manner would not be effective.<\/p>\n
\"We are not a barbarous nation which hurt the feelings of
\nothers. We have our own ethics and way on how express our views,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
He said social organizations, including ICMI, should also
\nunderstand the openness in the context of political stability and
\nnational integration.<\/p>\n
\"The nation which consists of numerous ethnic groups living in
\nthousands of islands across the country may disintegrate if
\nissues, such as democracy, are over-exploited,\" he warned.<\/p>\n
He insisted ABRI and the government will be consistent about
\ntheir policy not to \"sacrifice\" the national development and
\nunity to serve the interests of those ever demanding for
\ndemocracy.<\/p>\n
Illusion<\/p>\n
Asked by a participant if it would be possible for ABRI
\nofficers to join social organizations, Feisal was quick to answer
\nthat ABRI members were not allowed to do so because they are
\nsupposed to serve all groups.<\/p>\n
\"ABRI takes no side and will never meddle in the internal
\nproblems of any organizations,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Feisal said some people thought that political openness
\nIndonesia pursues was about the unlimited freedom of expression,
\nincluding criticizing people in public and anywhere they like.<\/p>\n
\"What a small educated part of our society often demand
\nsomething which is strange to our culture. They think that all
\nthings can be spoken out. Of course this not right,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Feisal pointed out that it would be an illusion to hope that
\nthe openness that develops in Indonesia would be comparable to
\nthat in the West.(rms)<\/p>",
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