Scholars scold ulemas for dabbling in politics<\/p>\n
SURABAYA (JP): Leading Moslem scholars have criticized a group
\nof fellow ulemas who recently named 10 people they deemed as vice
\npresidential material, calling it a dangerous political maneuver.<\/p>\n
Badri Masduki, the head of Badrud Duja Pesantren (Islamic
\nboarding school) in Kraksaan, Probolinggo, and Saleh Al Jufri,
\nthe director of the Institute for Islamic Information and
\nLaboratory, expressed their displeasure over the move.<\/p>\n
\"(They have done something) against their integrity as
\nulemas,\" said Badri.<\/p>\n
Led by Hasib Wahab, the head of Bahrul Ulum Pesantren in
\nJombang, a group of 99 ulemas said they planned to submit a list
\nof 10 names for the vice presidential election to the People's
\nConsultative Assembly.<\/p>\n
In hierarchical order, the list was as follows: incumbent Try
\nSutrisno; Information Minister R. Hartono; State Minister of
\nResearch and Technology B.J. Habibie; Golkar leader Siti
\nHardijanti Rukmana; House Speaker Harmoko; Coordinating Minister
\nof Political Affairs and Security Soesilo Soedarman; Army Chief
\nof Staff Gen. Wiranto; Defense Minister Edi Sudradjat; and East
\nJava Governor Basofi Soedirman.<\/p>\n
Hasib said the group also planned to visit President Soeharto,
\nto convey their support for his renomination, before the People's
\nConsultative Assembly's meeting next March.<\/p>\n
Badri was actually a member of FOKUS, but disagreed with the
\nmove. \"We never agreed to name any candidates. FOKUS did not
\nhave the competence to make statements about vice presidential
\ncandidates,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said that in the FOKUS meeting at Tunjungan Hotel late
\nNovember, there had not been any agenda to discuss the question
\nof the next vice presidency. \"Then, all of a sudden, there were
\nmany reports about the list,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Saleh Al Jufri said he was also invited to the meeting but
\ndeclined because he suspected there was political maneuvering
\nbrewing.<\/p>\n
In 1990, Saleh collected the signatures of 200 local ulemas to
\nsupport the nomination of Try Sutrisno.<\/p>\n
Saleh said the announcement of the 10 names was initiated by
\nHasib who wanted to see Try Sutrisno reelected.<\/p>\n
\"I know nothing of this,\" Saleh said, adding that he would not
\nmobilize support for anyone again.<\/p>\n
Sources told The Jakarta Post that Badri's protest was more
\nbecause he wanted greater support to be given to Hartono rather
\nthan Try Sutrisno.<\/p>\n
Governor Basofi cold-shouldered the motion. \"If they want to
\nname people, they can do so. Just leave me out of it,\" he said.<\/p>\n
FOKUS is an organization of leaders of boarding schools which
\nbelongs to Indonesia's largest Moslem organization the Nahdlatul
\nUlama. Their original mission was to curb the alleged spread of
\nthe Shiite sect, but in practice they were also active in
\npolitical affairs.<\/p>\n
In August last year, for instance, they issued a statement
\ndenouncing the Democratic People's Party (PRD) -- then charged
\nwith masterminding the July 27, 1996, riot, and other \"neo-
\ncommunist\" movements. (nur)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/scholars-scold-ulemas-for-dabbling-in-politics-1447893297",
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