Has Amien Rais' color changed?

Before the emergence of Amien Rais as a figure of the Reform Movement in 1997, I knew him as a Muslim political figure who tended to be fundamentalist, anti-Chinese, anti-Christian and anti-Jewish. In short, he represented the sectarian political camp that clearly gave priority to group interests above national interests.

Since 1997, Rais' political image has changed from its nature of sectarianism to nonsectarian. He stopped defaming the Chinese, Christians and Jews. He started voicing matters that were more national in nature.

Moreover, he started to defend and even protect minority groups that were mistreated. In short, he became a national political figure who put the nation's wider interests in the forefront, far from sectarian interest and fundamental characteristics. Since then, many sides which formerly criticized him expressed their political support for him. They believed that Amien Rais had changed. He was therefore seen as suitable as a national leader who was needed by the Indonesian nation which was in a crisis and under threat of disintegration.

Amien Rais' decision to establish and to lead the National Mandate Party (PAN) which was inclusive in nature and was nationally oriented, strengthened the conviction of the sides which once distrusted him.

However, the conviction that Amien Rais was really a national figure who tenaciously fought in the interests of all groups apparently evaporated after people heard his speech in front of a rally of Muslims at Monas Square on Jan. 7. He demanded that the government immediately solve the Maluku problem. On that occasion he urged the government to promptly settle the horizontal conflicts in the Maluku islands. He said threateningly, among other things, "The Muslims are full of patience, but there is a limit to the patience. If in two weeks from now the government is unable to settle the problems, the Muslims are ready to take action."

If the speech was made by a Muslim figure or politician, I think I could understand it very well. But coming from Amien Rais, the chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly, a big question arose whether he made his speech as a representative of the entire Indonesian population or as a Muslim leader who is instigating his masses to come into action. Whoever occupies the position of chairman of the Assembly, all his divisive attributes should be abandoned and he should act and speak in accordance with the aspirations of the whole population of Indonesia.

Now Amien Rais is free to decide whether he will really be a nonsectarian national leader or will feel more comfortable to return to his old habitat as a Muslim leader who tends to be sectarian. Does he choose to be a leader who protects the whole Indonesian population while seeking solutions for difficult problems faced by the nation or does he choose to be a political demagogue with narrow objectives?

BENNY SUBIANTO

Jakarta