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)