Questioning Hamzah Haz<\/p>\n
Vice President Hamzah Haz is known as a controversial figure.
\nHe often deliberately breaks the official government line,
\nraising eyebrows here and there, and causing people to question
\nhis true stance.<\/p>\n
For example, last year he said that a clause requiring all
\nMuslims to observe Islamic syariah law should be incorporated in
\nthe Constitution, although later he backed down and changed his
\nstance.<\/p>\n
Consequently, more than once Hamzah has been criticized for
\nhis \"un-vice presidential\" attitude. His defense has normally
\nbeen that he was acting not in his capacity as Vice President but
\nas the chairman of the United Development Party (PPP).<\/p>\n
Earlier this week, Hamzah Haz did it again. On Tuesday he paid
\na one-and-a-half-hour visit to the detained commander of Laskar
\nJihad, Ja'far Umar Thalib, in his cell at National Police
\nHeadquarters. Claiming that his visit was in his capacity as a
\nprivate citizen \"who happens to be the chairman of the United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP)\", Hamzah reportedly also said that it was
\nan obligation for a Muslim to visit another Muslim who was in
\ntrouble.<\/p>\n
Hamzah explained that during the visit nothing related to the
\ndue process of law in respect of Ja'far was discussed. \"What we
\ndiscussed was how to resolve the Ambon problem. There was no deal
\nwhatsoever\", he said.<\/p>\n
But earlier, on a different occasion, when asked by reporters
\nwhy as Vice President he had visited a suspect accused of
\ninciting hatred against the President, Hamzah reportedly smiled
\nand said \"What's wrong with it? We're Muslim brothers. There's
\nnothing wrong with visiting someone in trouble and sympathizing\".<\/p>\n
Understandably, the unprecedented visit and the inconsistency
\nof Hamzah's explanations, has caused uproar. Most critics
\nquestioned the visit and called it \"inappropriate\" or
\n\"unethical\". Some even accused the Vice President of trying to
\nwin the sympathies of Muslims in preparation for the 2004
\nelection.<\/p>\n
More eyebrows were raised when later it was reported that some
\nsort of deal had indeed been reached during the visit.<\/p>\n
According to the Koran Tempo daily, Eggi Sudjana, a Muslim
\nlabor activist who accompanied Hamzah during the visit, revealed
\nthat Ja'far had agreed to withdraw the Laskar Jihad militia from
\nAmbon on condition that the military and police would guarantee
\nthe safety of Muslims in Maluku.<\/p>\n
According to Eggi, both Ja'far and Hamzah Haz agreed to
\njointly visit Ambon after Ja'far's release to attend a ceremony
\nwhere Laskar Jihad would surrender their weapons to the
\nauthorities.<\/p>\n
It is obvious then that Hamzah Haz's visit was not simply an
\nordinary visit. Thus, the term \"unethical\" seems to be the most
\napt description of the visit.<\/p>\n
Hamzah should have known better given that Ja'far was detained
\non charges of agitation and slanderous remarks directed against
\nthe President and Vice President. Hamzah may argue that everyone
\nshould be presumed innocent until found guilty by the court. Or
\nthat the recording of the speech made by Ja'far, which is being
\nused by the police as evidence, was not legally admissible in
\ncourt.<\/p>\n
But, Hamzah should also remember that the recording also
\ncontained remarks by Ja'far not only calling on Muslims to fight
\nagainst non-Muslims until the last drop of their blood had been
\nspilled, but also signifying Ja'far's intention of killing the
\nrelatives of the late former president Sukarno, whose daughter is
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri. The recordings may later be
\nproved to have been doctored, but the mere suspicion that Ja'far
\nexpressed such a threat should remind Hamzah that above all he is
\nthe Vice President whose duty, among others things, is to assist
\nthe President.<\/p>\n
Hamzah's remark that he is obliged to visit Ja'far because he
\nis a Muslim brother is also regrettable as it could be
\ninterpreted as sidelining the millions of non-Muslim Indonesians.<\/p>\n
No one would argue that the question of whether or not Ja'far
\nis guilty should be decided by the courts. There is also no
\nargument against the fact that solidarity among Muslims, or even
\nbetter among all Indonesians, should be maintained and
\nencouraged. But, Hamzah Haz as the Vice President and a seasoned
\npolitician should show better judgment and wisdom by putting the
\nnational interest first before making a move that is so heavily
\nladen with personal interest<\/p>\n
We all know that the President and Vice President have to work
\nin tandem, and if one of the duo tends to veer in a different
\ndirection, whatever the reason may be, the whole nation will be
\njeopardized.<\/p>\n
In conclusion, it is sad to reflect that we obviously have
\nmany more politicians than we have statesmen.<\/p>",
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