Government says no plan to rehabilitate Masyumi
Government says no plan to rehabilitate Masyumi
JAKARTA (JP): The government has categorically denied rumors that it is planning to rehabilitate Masyumi, a Moslem organization that joined a rebellion against the state in the 1950s.
The rumors emerged after it was announced that the government will posthumously award meritorious services awards on four leaders of the banned organization.
"The government isn't thinking in those sort of terms," Minister of Social Services Endang Kusuma Inten Suweno told reporters at her office yesterday.
"The Ministry of Social Services does not have the authority to decide such a thing," Inten told a press conference about the plan to confer awards on 52 people, all posthumously, on Heroes Day on Nov. 10.
Four of the recipients are former leaders of Masyumi: Jusuf Wibisono, Kasman Singodimedjo, Ki Bagus Hadikoesoemo and Prawoto Mangkusasmito. They served in the government in various capacities during the organization's heyday in the late 1940s and 1950s.
Jusuf served as finance minister, Kasman and Ki Bagus were the architects to the preamble of the 1945 Constitution and Prawoto, the last chairman of Masyumi before the organization was outlawed, was deputy prime minister.
Masyumi was banned by President Sukarno in the late 1950s because many of its leaders, who were discontented at the growing power of the Indonesian Communist Party, joined the PRRI/Permesta rebellions led by local Army leaders in Sumatra and Sulawesi.
Fusion
Majelis Syuro Muslimin Indonesia (Masyumi) was a fusion of a number of Moslem political parties, including Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama, in 1943. It was one of the main political forces in the early years of Indonesia's independence.
President Soeharto released the jailed Masyumi leaders when he took power in 1966, but they were barred from reviving the organization or from assuming influential positions in any political organization.
The decision to award four of its leaders with the awards of merit has led to speculation that the government has forgiven Masyumi's former leaders for their role in the rebellion.
Other political observers have said the awards are the latest government move to improve relations with the Moslem community.
Inten rejected all such notions. "It is definitely wrong to assume that these awards are being conferred in an effort to woo Moslems or to rehabilitate Masyumi," she said.
She added that the recipients of the awards are chosen by the Central Heroes Supervision Board, which consists of very competent institutions which study the would-be recipients thoroughly beforehand.
Asked about the delay in making the awards, Inten said the government had to move cautiously in selecting all the recipients to make sure that they met the criteria laid down.
Kasman and Ki Bagus will receive the Bintang Republik Indonesia Utama award, while Prawoto and Jusuf will receive the Bintang Mahaputera Utama award.
The awards will be given to the relatives of the 52 recipients by President Soeharto at the Merdeka Palace on Nov. 9, the day before Heroes' Day.
Inten said that the government will confer the title National Hero on three men in recognition of their contribution to the national struggle.
The three, who will also receive the Bintang Mahaputera Adipradana award, are Nuku Muhammad Amiruddin Kaicil Paparangan of Halmahera in Maluku, Tuanku Tambusai of South Sumatra and Syekh Yusuf Tajul Khalwati of Goa in South Sulawesi.
The award for Syekh Yusuf was suggested by black South African scholars last year, who said that he inspired black Africans in their fight against colonialism. Syekh Yusuf, who fought fiercely against the Dutch in the 17th century, was sent into exile in Cape Town, South Africa, and died there in 1699.
The Dutch kept Syekh on Robben island prison where South African president Nelson Mandela was also imprisoned for 20 years.
Recipients of the Bintang Republik Indonesia Adipradana awards are Basuki Rachmat and Amir Machmud, two of the three Army generals who secured the Executive Order from President Sukarno on March 11, 1966, that gave unlimited power to then general Soeharto to restore order and stability. With the order, Soeharto outlawed the Indonesian Communist Party, which was blamed for the coup attempt the previous September.
The other and only survivor of the three generals is Mohammad Yusuf. He received his award last August. (31)