Religious leaders pledge neutrality<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Religious leaders pledged on Wednesday to remain neutral in the
\ngeneral election and appealed to the followers of the various
\nreligions to maintain their composure in the face of provocation
\nfrom political parties.<\/p>\n
Muhammadiyah Chairman Ahmad Syafii Maarif, Solahuddin Wahid
\nfrom Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Indonesian Communion of Churches
\n(PGI) Chairman Rev. Nathan Setiabudi said the religious groups
\nhad no connection with any religion-based political parties.<\/p>\n
\"Those parties do not represent religious communities; they
\nare just using religious symbols to woo voters,\" Syafii said.<\/p>\n
\"They can promise to fight for the adoption of sharia or wear
\nlong robes to attract voters, and these all make me sick because
\nthey just do it for the sake of their (political) goals.\"<\/p>\n
The three religious leaders were speaking in a seminar held by
\nthe Election Education Network for the People (JPPR) here on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
JPPR groups youth organizations affiliated with Muhammadiyah,
\nincluding Muhammadyah Youth Organization, the Association of
\nMuhammadiyah Students and Muhammadiyah women's youth wing
\nNasiatul Aisyiyah.<\/p>\n
The group is also cooperating with youth organizations
\naffiliated to the country's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul
\nUlama (NU) and non-Muslim groups in conducting voter education
\nprograms.<\/p>\n
Nathan said Christians would exercising their political rights
\nas citizens, not members of churches.<\/p>\n
\"Parties that adopt certain religious symbols have no right to
\nclaim they represent the public, because they may fail to live up
\nto their promises,\" Nathan said.<\/p>\n
Muhammadiyah has always been linked to the National Mandate
\nParty (PAN), while several parties, including the National
\nAwakening Party (PKB) and the United Development Party (PPP),
\nhave claimed to represent NU and the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS)
\nhas been associated with Christianity.<\/p>\n
Muhammadiyah sprang a surprise recently when it announced its
\nsupport for PAN chairman Amien Rais' presidential bid. Amien is
\nSyafii's predecessor.<\/p>\n
But Syafii retracted the Muslim group's decision on Wednesday,
\nsaying Muhammadiyah had never nominated an individual
\npresidential candidate.<\/p>\n
Ahead of the April 5 election, religious leaders are being
\nwooed by political parties.<\/p>\n
Chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
\n(PDI-P) Megawati Soekarnoputri visited NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi
\nat his Islamic boarding school in Malang, East Java earlier this
\nmonth.<\/p>\n
Golkar Party chairman Akbar Tandjung and Amien have also
\ntoured Java to meet Muslim clerics, so will the Concern for the
\nNation Functional Party (PKPB) leader Siti \"Tutut\" Hardijanti
\nRukmana, Soeharto's eldest daughter.<\/p>\n
Solahuddin said NU had fought hard to distance itself from
\npolitics since it reinstated its status as a non-political
\norganization in 1984.<\/p>\n
\"NU is not a political body. It cannot name certain
\nindividuals as its presidential candidates. NU executives who
\nhave political ambitions must resign and struggle for their goals
\nthrough political parties,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Window:<\/p>\n
\"People have to learn that even God is being hijacked by
\nIndonesian politicians,\" Muhammadiyah Chairman Ahmad Syafii
\nMaarif.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/religious-leaders-pledge-neutrality-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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