Factions down on 'syariah', muted on TNI

Factions down on 'syariah', muted on TNI

JAKARTA (JP): The People's Consultative Assembly's major
factions showed strong resistance on Thursday to the proposed
inclusion of syariah Islamic law in the 1945 Constitution but
were less certain about expelling the military and police from
the Assembly.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
faction, asserted that Article 29 of the Constitution on
religious affairs should be maintained and that there was no need
to add the phrase kewajiban menjalankan syariah Islam bagi para
pemeluknya (an obligation for Muslims to comply with Islamic law)
to it.

The largest faction in the Assembly described the article as
fundamental to maintaining pluralism in the country.

"We call on all parties, both in the Assembly and in the
Indonesian nation, to jointly preserve the foundations of the
nation. Let us maintain Article 29 of the Constitution in its
original form," the faction said in a speech read by Yoseph
Umarhadi.

The 11 factions were giving their responses on Thursday to
proposals presented by MPR ad hoc committees.

Article 29 stipulates that the state shall be based on belief
in one supreme God.

It also guarantees every citizen the freedom to adhere to
their religion or faith and perform their religious duties.

In commenting on the role of the military and police, PDI
Perjuangan simply said the country needed a professional and
effective army and police.

It refrained from commenting on growing demands that the
Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police (Polri) vacate
their 38 seats in the Assembly.

"The draft decree on the role of the TNI and National Police
needs further discussion," the faction noted.

The draft amendment to the Constitution's article on the
composition of the Assembly says the legislative body should
include "certain interest groups" who, because of their duties
and tasks, should not have voting rights. Many have interpreted
the article as allowing TNI/Polri a role in the Assembly.

On the religious amendment, the Golkar faction said: "Our
state is based on one God almighty. This shows that Indonesia is
neither a secular state nor one based on religion".

"Indonesia is a state where all religions can live together in
harmony and respect each other, and where they are protected by
the law," faction spokesman Hajriyanto Y. Thohari said.

Golkar praised the military's decision to abandon politics,
and urged the Assembly to find a solution to the debate on the
military presence in legislative bodies.

"Our next problem is how to accommodate and guarantee the
representation of the TNI/National Police in the MPR, as they can
not use their right to vote," it said.

The United Development Party (PPP) faction along with some
other small Muslim-based parties proposed the inclusion of
Islamic law in the Constitution.

"It is baseless if certain people regard the adoption of the
obligation to carry out Islamic law in the 1945 Constitution as a
disaster for the nation," the faction said.

On the military, it said: "PPP faction is of the opinion that
in developing democracy and in line with the nation's political
maturity, TNI/Polri should not exercise their right to vote and
be elected."

The Crescent Star Party faction supported the amendment to
Article 29, saying that the additional seven words to the article
served to elaborate the 1945 Constitution stipulation on
religion.

In its speech read by Hamdan Zoelva, the faction said that as
Indonesia was a predominantly Muslim country it would be better
if Muslims truly carried out their religious duties.

The amendment of the article could be a solution to the moral
degradation that is plaguing the country, it said.

"The seven words are not meant to force followers of other
religions to comply with Islamic law nor to undermine people with
different faiths.

"Islamic law guarantees the freedom of people to differ in
faiths," it said.

On Army/Police representation at the Assembly, the faction
said it supported the gradual withdrawal of the institutions from
the Assembly.

The Reform faction did not elaborate its stance on religion,
only saying that the article on religion should be maintained and
strengthened.

The faction also stated that all Assembly members should be
elected by the people, thereby eliminating appointed members and
interest group factions.

"That also goes for the House of Representative. We think that
all House members must be elected through direct elections," said
faction speaker Zirlyrosa Jamil.

The TNI/Polri faction did not directly touch on its presence
in the Assembly, saying: " The military and the police will be
neutral and not involved in any political practices. All
TNI/Polri members will not exercise their right to vote or to be
elected," faction speaker Budi Harsono said.

Outside the Assembly hall, opposition against the proposed
amendment to Article 29 of the Constitution could also be found.
Leading Muslim organizations, including Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and
Muhammadiyah, said that the proposal was a setback and could lead
to national disintegration.

Noted Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid, NU chairman Hasyim
Muzadi and his Muhammadiyah counterpart Syafi'ie Ma'arief said at
a joint media conference:

"We reject the plan. Such an obligation to abide by Islamic
law is down to the Muslim individual, not public institutions or
the state. Furthermore, the state has no right to stipulate to
society on how it must carry out its beliefs," Hasyim said.

Another Muslim scholar, Masdar Farid Masudi, said that the
inclusion of Islamic law in the Constitution could lead to state
intervention into people's religious freedom.

"Islamic teachings should serve as the source of inspiration
when running the state, instead of inspiring some political
parties to pursue their temporary interests," Masdar said. (team)