Hamzah insists on inclusion of Jakarta Chapter

Hamzah insists on inclusion of Jakarta Chapter

JAKARTA (JP): United Development Party (PPP) Chairman Hamzah
Haz insisted on Saturday that the inclusion of the Jakarta
Chapter in the 1945 Constitution would not mean that the full
implementation of Islamic law for Muslims would threaten other
religions in the country.

Speaking at the opening of the party's branch meeting in
Jombang, East Java, Hamzah, who is also the Vice President,
contended that the inclusion of the Jakarta Chapter would not
automatically turn Indonesia into a Muslim country.

"PPP does not have the intention to establish an Islamic
country. We merely suggest the inclusion of the Jakarta Chapter
in Article 29 on religion of the 1945 Constitution," Hamzah said
in his speech in front of party supporters.

The Jakarta Chapter, the basis for the Preamble of the 1945
Constitution, was hotly debated about 56 years ago, shortly after
Indonesia achieved independence.

Controversies emerged over the wording, "obliging its
followers to exercise Islamic laws." People feared that it would
spawn narrow-minded religious fanaticism.

The phrase was later dropped from the Constitution.

PPP Secretary General Ali Marwan Hanan said on Saturday that
the party would not try to change the Preamble of the
Constitution as it only suggested the inclusion of Article 29.

Hamzah's remarks to promote the Jakarta Chapter apparently
constitutes the first sign of dissension with President Megawati
Soekarnoputri, whose Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) clearly rejects any amendment to Article 29.

The largest Muslim organization in the country, Nadhatul Ulama
(NU), rejected the suggested inclusion of the Jakarta Chapter in
the Constitution, saying that it would only disturb the country's
multi-religious life.

"NU will stick to our stance to reject the suggestion because
it is not fair for other religions if one of them has special
treatment in the Constitution," NU Secretary General Masduki
Baidlowi told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

"For NU this is an insignificant debate because currently we
need to focus on economic recovery and not the Jakarta Chapter,"
he remarked.

He underlined that Muslims can implement the Islamic law in
private and it is important now to fight for a universal value of
humanity in real life instead of inserting some teachings in the
national regulation.

"I consider this as an effort to create dissension between
Hamzah and President Megawati, whose stance as a real nationalist
is clear. We have to be very careful with this," Masduki warned.

Earlier, the chairman of the second largest Muslim
organization Muhammadiyah, Syafii Ma'arif, also rejected the
suggestion, arguing that it would only provoke religious
disharmony.

Hamzah was on a one-day trip to Jombang for the party's
meeting. He also visited the graveyard of Islamic teacher Wahab
Hasbullah and held talks with students of Tebuireng Islamic
Boarding School.

Meanwhile, some leaders of Islamic boarding schools in East
Java reportedly rejected Hamzah's visit, even though it was aimed
at reconciliation among Muslim-based parties that split during
the ousting of then president Abdurrahman Wahid last July.

Antara reported that several ulemas preferred to attend the
opening of a national painting exhibition, which was opened by NU
chairman Hasyim Muzadi, in Malang.

Dozens of students of Darul Ulum University in Jombang also
protested Hamzah when he delivered a speech at Merdeka Sports
Hall, which is located on their campus. A student was injured in
a clash with security officers. (dja/hhr)