Gus Dur concerned over demands for 'syariah'

Gus Dur concerned over demands for 'syariah'

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid expressed on
Saturday concern over demands by some Muslim-based groups for the
inclusion of syariah (Islamic law) into the 1945 Constitution,
saying it only weakens the nation's unity.

In a meeting with National Awakening Party (PKB) leaders at
Bina Graha presidential office, the President described the
attempts to promote syariah into the Constitution as a campaign
to formalize religion in state affairs.

The President apparently refrained from commenting on the
issue until the Annual Session of the People's Consultative
Assembly (MPR) ended on Friday.

His comments were revealed during a meeting with PKB senior
executives on Saturday.

PKB chairman Matori Abdul Djalil said the President was
concerned that such an inclusion in the constitutional amendments
would trigger unrest in the country.

Matori said the President felt the nation could only remain
strong and united if pluralism and respect of differences were
upheld.

"The promotion of syariah is not a new issue for the nation.
It has been voiced for a long time. Therefore this issue needs
our mutual attention to enable us to get a satisfactory solution,
because otherwise it will disrupt our unity and cohesion," said
Matori during the meeting at Bina Graha presidential office.

Abdurrahman received the PKB executives as the chairman of the
party's law-making body, the Syuro council.

During the MPR's Annual Session last week, the United
Development Party (PPP) and Crescent Star Party pressed for the
inclusion of an obligation for Muslims to abide by Islamic law in
the amendments to the Constitution.

Major political parties, including Golkar and the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), however, opposed
the proposal.

"The proposition to include syariah in Article 29 of the
Constitution is an effort to formalize religion. However this
attempt will only trigger restlessness," Matori quoted the
President as saying.

Matori said the President plans to set up a special body to
study sensitive and strategic issues in society and to find the
best solution for the problem.

"The President explained to us that he may form a kind of
national security council in the near future, where we can
discuss crucial matters," said Matori without elaborating
further.

An Assembly member from the Crescent Star Party, Hartono
Mardjono, regretted that objection to including Islamic law in
constitutional amendments mainly came from Muslim legislators.

"That the proposal was not adopted is attributed to the fact
that the majority of opposing parties were Muslim," Hartono
announced after installing executives of the Indonesian Islamic
Youth Movement (GPII) here on Sunday.

He suggested that Muslims continue to promote the Jakarta
Chapter, the clause which obligates Muslims to comply with
syariah.

He also promised to continue the struggle to make the Assembly
insert the clause in the Constitution.

"The most important thing now is to promote the idea to all
Muslim people. With wider public support, the proposal will not
be rejected in the future," he said.

Hartono, however, recommended that Muslims start to apply
Islamic law in their daily lives as proof that it is possible to
apply syariah in the country. (jun/prb)