Amien warned against criticizing Gus Dur
JAKARTA (JP): People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais got a dose of his own medicine when the Muhammadiyah Muslim organization, which he chaired for many years, formally reprimanded his incessant attacks on President Abdurrahman Wahid.
Muhammadiyah Chairman Ahmad Syafi'i Maarif said on Wednesday the organization had delivered a written and spoken warning for Amien to control his criticism of the President.
Syafi'i feared that Amien's sharp remarks against the President could negatively affect the divide between Muhammadiyah and Nadhatul Ulama (NU), which Abdurrahman formerly chaired.
The two organizations are regarded as the two most powerful socio-religious organizations in the country. However, the two rarely see eye-to-eye on many issues.
"Amien should improve the manner in which he criticizes and I have warned him both in writing and verbally. Amien received the comments positively but he needs time to change," Syafi'i remarked.
Syafi'i warned that arguments between the two Muslim leaders could ignite a horizontal conflict among grass roots supporters of the organizations, so both Amien and Abdurrahman must control their statements to bring peace to Muslims.
"I am sure if the elites can restrain themselves and remember that their disputes can be very dangerous to the people, then there will be no horizontal conflict between the supporters of the two Muslim organizations," he added.
Syafi'i further emphasized that understanding between the two leaders will strengthen Muslim brotherhood.
But separately Amien Rais kept up his barrage of criticism against the President.
"I suggested the he (Abdurrahman) should undertake a 'fasting speech'. It would make the session comfortable," Amien who chairs the National Mandate Party, said on Wednesday, referring to the August General Session of the Assembly.
Amien contended that Abdurrahman's controversial statements have caused confusion and concern among the public.
And House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung also remarked that it may be a good idea for Abdurrahman to stop making controversial statements.
"No more controversial statements. Gus Dur should be proportional in making statements," Akbar who is chairman of the Golkar Party said.
Meanwhile in Bandung, West Java, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Tyasno Sudarto called on political elites to stop making conflicting statements as the people are getting more and more frustrated.
"In such a critical situation, the country needs political elites with maturity," he said on Wednesday.
"The heated debates by political elites in several forums and interviews need cooling off," he said.
"The open debates on politics on the recent security situation and rioting in several areas in the country have indirectly disturbed the military, especially the Army's performance."
He also urged political elites to stop fighting for the interest of their own groups and start thinking of the nation's interest.
Tyasno made the statements after presiding over two ceremonies in the transfer of duty at the Army's Staff Command School here.
Maj. Gen. Djoko Besariman transferred his post as chief of the Army's Staff Command School to Maj. Gen. Bibit Waluyo, while Maj. Gen. Amir Sembiring was installed at the Army Education and Training School to replace Lt. Gen. Sumardi. (25/sur/dja/jun)