Amien warned against criticizing Gus Dur

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)