Hartono's ICMI entry

Minister of Information R. Hartono seems to have an aptitude for making news. At least since his surprise appointment to the cabinet in June, Hartono has been watched closely by many circles as a rising star in the country's political domain. When this retired four-star general and former Army chief was installed in a sociopolitical position, it seemed a real achievement in this country. Many people had believed that he would get a diplomatic post.

Hartono's statement that he wanted to join the influential Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI), was yet another surprise. Even more astounding was the news that he was ready to lead the influential organization.

The statement heralded a political turnaround because there are no plans for an ICMI congress before the year 2000. Furthermore ICMI's relationship with the ruling elite has become less intimate since Dr. Amien Rais, the chairman of its board of experts, abruptly resigned. Amien, who is also chairman of the social and educational organization Muhammadiyah, had enjoyed the freedom to censure many government policies. With the resignation of Amien, ICMI's popularity among many Moslems was reduced.

This perhaps contributed to speculation about Hartono being favored to lead the organization. As a cabinet minister, Hartono needed a green light from President Soeharto to join the association. He received permission to go ahead with this social activity earlier this week.

Although the congress meeting is a few years down the track, many people have expressed support for Hartono's election. One reason for his popularity may be the strong Islamic links in his family. However it will be the congress that decides who will be the ICMI leader to take the organization into the next century.

ICMI was set up as a social organization in 1990. Its Moslem supporters believe that it would be able to do the job that Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama, another Moslem organization, were unable to accomplish.

But Abdurrahman Wahid, the leader of the 30-million member Nahdlatul Ulama, had suspected the organization was heading toward sectarianism, a hazardous development for the nation. In an apparent effort to counter the campaign, ICMI forged close cooperation with the intellectual organizations of other religious groups.

Only President Soeharto's willingness to act as ICMI's patron several years ago managed to neutralize the movement against ICMI, from inside and outside the government.

ICMI chairman Habibie, who is also research and technology minister, seems to have realized the imbalance and he deemed it necessary to emphasize again the ICMI's basic social principles.

Only time will tell what kind of organization Moslems want ICMI to become and who will lead it into the 21st century.

We are certain that the unfolding of events in the future will affect the country's social and political organizations and Hartono's position.