ABRI keeping an eye on preachers of hatred

ABRI keeping an eye on preachers of hatred

YOGYAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) keeps an eye on
"certain people" who misuse Islamic propagation for political
propaganda and agitation.

Maj. Gen. Suwarno Adiwidjojo, assistant to chief of the Armed
Forces (ABRI) sociopolitical affairs, however, stressed that the
military is not suspicious of true Moslem preachers.

"But we do have suspicions about people who preach hatred and
discredit other groups," Suwarno said when addressing a seminar
on Moslem propagation at Muhammadiyah University on Thursday.

Suwarno denied allegations that ABRI harbors suspicion of
younger Moslem preachers, saying that the Armed Forces and
Moslems now enjoy good relations.

His statement is typical and usually repeated prior to general
elections when the political climate is heightening. Moslems
constitutes 87 percent of Indonesia's 195 million population.

Political parties to contest in next year's election, Golkar,
the United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic
Party (PDI), have approached Moslem groups for support.

Golkar leaders have visited Moslem boarding schools and so
have the Moslem-based PPP. PDI leaders have the sympathy of
Abdurrahman Wahid, chief of the 30-million strong Nahdlatul Ulama
(NU).

Together with the bureaucracy, ABRI is the backbone of Golkar,
which it founded in 1964 to counter the growing influence of the
defunct Indonesian Communist Party.

"Now is probably the heyday in the ABRI-Moslem relations. The
ABRI commander was a Muhammadiyah family member," he told some
600 people at the seminar.

Acknowledging the influence Moslem preachers have, he said the
religious leaders should help the government promote peace and
shun inflammatory preaches.

One thing that Suwarno criticized about Moslem propagation
nowadays is that there is a growing tendency to present
celebrities whose knowledge on Islam is questionable.

He said the policy must be reviewed.

"Featuring celebrities, such as artists and comedians, for
religious teaching on television and radio increasingly provokes
criticism because there is disparity in what they say and do in
their daily life," he said.

The seminar also featured Achmad Dahlan University rector
Noeng Muhadjir and Moslem propagator Muhammad Muqoddas from
Muhammadiyah University. (har/pan)