Gus Dur denies calling ICMI sectarian

Gus Dur denies calling ICMI sectarian

JAKARTA (JP): Moslem scholar Abdurrahman Wahid, long thought
to despise the Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals
(ICMI), said he needed the powerful organization just like many
other Indonesians.

The chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia's largest
Moslem organization with some 30 million supporters, denied he
ever accused ICMI of being a sectarian group. The association of
intellectuals is chaired by State Minister of Research and
Technology B.J. Habibie.

"I never thought of ICMI as sectarian. It's the elements
within the organization that are sectarian, and they will harm
the organization itself," Abdurrahman said. He cited Masjumi, a
powerful Islamic political party in the 1950s which crumbled
because of internal conflicts among its "militant elements".

Speaking in a gathering of Moslem students in Surabaya, East
Java Monday, Abdurrahman said: "ICMI should purge itself of its
sectarian, harmful elements so that the organization can be
strong forever.

"If people ask me, I'd say that I need ICMI. But not ICMI
which is dominated by the sectarian elements, namely people who
try to force their will on others."

Since it was established in 1990, ICMI has gone from strength
to strength. It is now manned not only by intellectuals but also
powerful bureaucratic and political figures in the country. At
one point, the organization was said to have influenced the
formation of the current cabinet.

The organization, which lists as its chief patron President
Soeharto, has often been accused of being too dependent on
Habibie, "the super minister" who happens to be a close confidant
of the president.

Despite the leaders' repeated assertion to the contrary, ICMI
has also accused it of dabbling in elite politics, and of
becoming a mere tool for the power holders to mobilize the
increasingly influential Moslems, especially those from the
middle class.

Abdurrahman, better known as Gus Dur, has also often
criticized the association for its proximity to the power
holders.

"Unless the organization cleanses itself of its 'ulcers',
there will emerge Moslem groups who pit one group against
another, or with other religious groups," Abdurrahman was quoted
by Antara as saying. "This situation will eventually harm
Moslems."

He suggested that one of the first steps that ICMI should take
is to stop seeing those who don't support it as "committing
sins".

NU

Abdurrahman also asserted the political independence of
Nahdlatul Ulama. "Most NU members want an indirect political
role," he said.

With an indirect role, NU members do not have to get
themselves involved in practical politics but still have the
chance to channel their political aspirations, Abdurrahman said.

"Today, however, some NU members are affiliated with the
Moslem-based United Development Party (PPP), the nationalist
Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) or even the bureaucracy-backed
Golkar," he said.

Still, the majority want an indirect political role, he said.
This does not necessarily mean NU will make a fuss about the
political affiliation of some of its members because there is
actually "nothing bad" about it, he said.

He also said no regulation prohibits NU members from
channeling their aspirations to ICMI.

The NU, officially established in 1926, is also believed to be
the world's largest Islamic organization. It reportedly has no
less than 30 million members throughout Indonesia, making it a
very influential organization.

According to Abdurrahman, the indirect political role is not a
policy he created.

"It was something from our previous leaders like Achmad
Shidiq, Bisri Syamsuri and Ali Maksum. I just continued what had
been passed on to me," he said.

Abdurrahman also said he plans to arrange a meeting between
Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, President Soeharto's eldest daughter,
and NU members.

Nevertheless, he expressed hope that if it pushes through, the
meeting should not be interpreted as NU's support for Golkar.

Rukmana, popularly known as Tutut, is a member of the Golkar
executive board. She is included in the list of candidates for
the 1992-2002 House of Representatives (DPR) as a Golkar
representative of the province of Central Java.

"The NU after all, has no tradition of supporting or not
supporting a political figure," he said, adding that the meeting
is just a way of NU giving Golkar a chance to win NU members'
hearts and minds.

Abdurrahman said he can also arrange a similar meeting with
leaders of the PPP and the PDI. (swe)