Former VP Sudharmono defends ICMI

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)