Former VP Sudharmono defends ICMI

JAKARTA (JP): Former vice president Sudharmono is defending ICMI, the association of Moslem intellectuals, from its critics stressing the organization is and will remain apolitical.

Sudharmono, who heads the P-7 team which advises President Soeharto on ideological matters, said on Saturday that there was no way for ICMI to become involved in practical politics because that would be in violation of its own constitution.

The country's law also specifically says that only three political organizations -- Golkar, PPP and PDI -- are allowed to engage in practical politics.

ICMI, which counts on Sudharmono as one of its patrons along with Soeharto, has been under attack in recent weeks after accusations were made that its members were using the organization's increasing strength to further their own political ends.

The association is headed by State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie, who is widely rumored to be a leading candidate to replace Soeharto in 1998.

Criticisms against ICMI has spawned many scholars to plan new associations to counter what they see as the growing strength of the group, whom they say has revived sectarian politics in the country.

Sudharmono has said, however, that ICMI's main function is in promoting education and culture. "I don't think ICMI will be a force of its own in the general election."

He acknowledged that whether or not ICMI is diverted from its original mission depends very much on its leaders.

He said he did not see anything wrong with the plans of other scholar to set up new associations so long as they comply with the laws on mass organizations.

There is no law limiting the number of mass organizations in the country, so long as they pledge their allegiance to Pancasila, the state ideology, he said.

On a related matter, Sudharmono was asked about the fate of the Indonesian Prosperous Trade Union (SBSI), which has not been given official recognition.

He pointed out that the law requires all organizations with similar functions to come under one government umbrella organization. For example, the National Committee of Youths (KNPI) serves as a parent organization for all youth groups.

In Indonesia, all union fall under the jurisdiction of the All Indonesian Workers Union (SPSI), he said. (emb)