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)