Hartono's ICMI entry

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.