Has Amien Rais' color changed?

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