Associations and

Associations and
nationalism

Minister of Defense and Security Gen. Edi Sudradjat gave his
support to the establishment of the Association of Indonesian
National Intellectuals (ICKI) initiated by Krisnadwipayana
University Rector R. Muhono and backed by 17 private
universities.

President Soeharto once pointed out that it is wrong for us to
divide ourselves into several different groups with narrow
outlooks reflecting ancestral backgrounds, ethnical origins,
social statuses or religions, considering that the 1945
Constitution guarantees equal rights to all under the law.

Minister Edi followed up on this idea by emphasizing that an
association of intellectuals characterized by a sense of
nationalism is essential for a pluralistic country in order to
maintain integrity and unity, instead of promoting the ideas of
ethnic, tribal or religious states.

According to the rector, the new association, ICKI, is not
intended as a competitor for the two previously established
associations, ICMI (Association of Indonesian Moslem
Intellectuals) and PIKI (Association of Indonesian Christian
Intellegensia). But rather, ICKI, is expected to function as a
binding force for all established associations.

In view of this, a relevant question may arise as to whether
more associations will emerge to group Javanese intellectuals,
Sundanese intellectuals, or Sumatran scholars, etc., or whether
other religion-oriented organizations will come into being.

-Angkatan Bersenjata, Jakarta

Recent developments bring us face to face with the fact that
our sense of nationalism is facing hard challenges. In truth, it
can be concluded that our feeling of nationalism is eroding.

Verily, the process of democratization and the pluralistic
nature of our nation, may turn out to be a threat to
nationalistic sentiment.

In view of this situation, we hail the discussions to be held
this week by the Functional Group (Golkar), focusing on the issue
of nationalism to welcome the forthcoming Awakening Day, May 20.

We hope that the result of the deliberations will serve to
consolidate our sense of togetherness and the concept of all of
us being integral elements of one nation.

--Suara Karya, Jakarta

Doing as many virtuous acts as possible is the commitment made
by the Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals, ICMI, in
the wake of the emergence of several other associations with
different characteristics and concepts.

ICMI was not born by accident. It is based upon long and
persistent thought among its supporters. And it was established
against the background of the strong commitment of Moslems to
make progress and to initiate innovative change.

--Republika, Jakarta