Analysts oppose call for only male Moslem presidents

JAKARTA (JP): Political observers opposed on Saturday the recommendation by a group of Moslem clerics that Indonesia's president and vice president must be male Moslems.

Political professor Muhammad Budyatna and Moslem politician Amien Rais argued against the recommendation issued by a commission during the Indonesian Moslem Congress which ended on Saturday.

Budyatna believed the stance was meant to be a deliberate maneuver against popular politician Megawati Soekarnoputri, who chairs a faction of the splintered Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI). He said the stance did not reflect the opinion of the whole Indonesian Moslem community.

"It should not be a problem whether the president is a man or a woman. The most important thing is that he or she must be a democratic leader," Budyatna, deputy chairman of the Moslems Party, said as quoted by Antara.

But Megawati on Sunday declined to comment on the issue. At a function at the party's West Jakarta branch she only told followers that "there is no need to respond" to various issues.

Budyatna, also former dean of the University of Indonesia's School of Sociopolitical Sciences, suggested the view be treated as merely the opinion of a group of Moslems rather than as a rule that bound the whole community.

He supported some Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) activists who reportedly considered the stance sexist and against women's political emancipation.

"It is true women cannot become Imam (leaders) in Moslem rituals ... however it should not be generalized and assumed as a fact in political affairs."

"A woman can become a leader of a Moslem-dominant country, like Pakistan," he said, adding that men who had led Indonesia proved to be authoritarian. "We should give both men and women equal opportunity to become the state's leaders," he said.

In Surabaya, Amien Rais, who has announced he is running for the presidency, highlighted a principle in Islam that recognizes exceptions. If a country did not have capable male leaders, then women could lead.

Amien, who chairs the National Mandate Party (PAN), said the public needed to respect the congress' stance, given how it was achieved through intensive deliberations by respected clerics, but added that some Islamic countries such as Bangladesh and Pakistan had had women leaders.

Amien did not believe the clerics were specifically targeting Megawati. The issue discussed was "a fundamental one, but there's always an exception," he said. "The question is now whether there are any capable men in Indonesia."

In Jakarta, former home affairs minister Rudini said he believed a woman could not be president, but should have the opportunity to become vice president.

"The rule that a leader must be a man is stipulated in the Holy Koran," Rudini, also former Army chief of staff, said.

Deputy chairman of the Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI), Ali Yafie, said the issue would be discussed further by the council.

He acknowledged the congress' participants were also divided over the issue, which was why it was not one of the gathering's official recommendations. (imn/swe)