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)