Divide between nationalism and Islam must be avoided: Syafii
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.