PPP asks ulemas to reach political consensus<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The United Development Party (PPP) asked ulemas
\nfrom all the three political groups yesterday to convene before
\nthe May 29 general election in order to reach political
\nconsensus.<\/p>\n
PPP chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum said in a post-Idul Fitri
\ngathering with some 300 ulemas from all over Indonesia that the
\nmeeting is expected to decide on moral guidance both for
\npolitical groups and the government.<\/p>\n
"The meeting, if approved, should be aimed at reminding the
\nulemas of their mission in the election.<\/p>\n
"Ulemas are not tools of political groups to win general
\nelections. They are responsible for building the political morale
\nof each political group they are affiliated with."<\/p>\n
Ismail said that the PPP called for the meeting to avoid rifts
\nbetween ulemas from different political affiliations. "We don't
\nwant to see ulemas belonging to the PPP, Golkar, or the PDI.
\nUlemas have a duty to maintain unity, harmony and popularity
\namong the masses," he said.<\/p>\n
The general election will be contested by the PPP, the
\ndominant political group Golkar and the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty (PDI), who will vie for 425 of 500 House of Representatives
\nseats.<\/p>\n
A number of the ulemas that appeared on the provisional list
\nof legislative candidates released by the parties last month have
\na good chance of securing House seats.<\/p>\n
Among the 300 ulemas attending the gathering were Ali Hasyim
\nLatief, Maimun Zubair, Latief Muchtar, Kaoy Syah, all of whom are
\nlegislative candidates from East Java, Central Java, West Java
\nand Aceh, respectively, and Alawy Muhammad of Madura.<\/p>\n
The PPP consists of four Moslem parties which merged in 1973
\nfollowing the government's decision to reduce political groups
\neligible to take part in general elections from 10 to three. It
\nwas common in the past for ulemas to pledge their allegiance to
\nthe PPP.<\/p>\n
Ismail said that the PPP has nothing against ulemas joining
\nother political groups, though he branded those who broke away
\nfrom his party as not having followed up on the 1973 "mission of
\nfusion".<\/p>\n
He said that in the wake of overwhelming moral decay in public
\nlife, ulemas must help instill an ethical political behavior.<\/p>\n
"The ulemas' credibility is at stake. If they do nothing to
\nstop cheating, political discrimination and intimidation, they
\nonly serve to attract the Moslem vote," Ismail said.<\/p>\n
The assistant to the Armed Forces chief of sociopolitical
\naffairs, Maj. Gen. Budi Harsono, was present at yesterday's
\ngathering.<\/p>\n
Budi, representing his superior Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid, called
\non ulemas to make full use of the national alert posts introduced
\nby the government to maintain unity prior to the general
\nelection.<\/p>\n
"The political climate is expected to heat up and the election
\nclimate needs to be anticipated by the government and informal
\nleaders like ulemas," Budi said.<\/p>\n
He said that recent incidents of public unrest over the past
\nfew months were likely provoked by groups that disseminated
\nmisleading information.<\/p>\n
Ethnic and sectarian riots have jolted the country since
\nOctober last year. Security authorities deny that the
\ndisturbances were triggered by the same groups.<\/p>\n
"People react to certain information differently. Some are
\neasily incited as the recent riots proved," Budi said.<\/p>\n
He asked ulemas to use the alert posts to discuss relevant
\nmatters with government officials and said that ulemas should
\nencourage the masses to develop tolerance and recognition of
\ndifferences.<\/p>\n
"Those commitments will boost democracy and sustainable
\ndevelopment," he said. (amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ppp-asks-ulemas-to-reach-political-consensus-1447893297",
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