Divide between nationalism and Islam must be avoided: Syafii

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The controversy over the establishment of an Islamic caucus continued with Muslim figures warning that it would not necessarily contradict nationalist mass organizations and parties.

Achmad Syafii Maarif, chairman of the second largest Muslim organization, Muhammadiyah, said he was uneasy with the caucus because of its exclusive membership and meetings.

"Muslim figures are free to form a caucus, but it should not be exclusive and there must not be a dichotomy between the Muslim group and a nationalist one because such a grouping would affect national unity," Syafii told The Jakarta Post by phone from Yogyakarta.

The caucus was initiated by People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais to strengthen brotherhood among Muslim figures. Amien has denied that the setting up of the caucus had something to do with preparations for the 2004 general election.

Syafii admitted he was invited to join past meetings of the caucus but did not show up.

According to Syafii, the most important thing for the nation was enforcing the law, resolving security and refugee problems in Aceh and Ambon.

He said the nation faced numerous crucial problems and needed statesmen, instead of politicians who simply fight for their own political interests.

Separately, Solahuddin Wahid, deputy chairman of the largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), denied the caucus was exclusive and that its main mission was to promote a sense of brotherhood among Muslim figures.

"I don't think so. It could later be extended to other politicians from other sides," he said, adding that NU was also a nationalist-based organization.

Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals (ICMI) Adi Sasono emphasized, however, that such a caucus was not needed because it would unavoidably create a dichotomy between Islamic and non-Islamic groups.

"The dichotomy of Islamic and non-Islamic groups can't be justified if we are at the same time promoting nationalism," he was quoted by Antara as saying in Semarang, Central Java.

Adi, who on Wednesday attended the meeting at the residence of Amien Rais, also chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN), said he would oppose transforming the meeting into an Islamic caucus.

Meanwhile, Roy BB Janis, deputy chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), said his party was not worried about the Islamic caucus, saying a majority of PDI Perjuangan supporters and constituents were Muslims.

"It is valid and so are their (Muslim figures) rights to set up such a new forum, but it will not affect PDI Perjuangan's performance in the next elections, because a majority of our supporters are Muslims," he said in a workshop here on Sunday.

J. Kristiady, a political observer from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), concurred but said all sides should work hand in hand to overcome all problems currently facing the nation.

He, however, said the presence of such a caucus would raise frictions and divisions among leaders, jeopardizing national unity.