House calls for rally-free month

House calls for rally-free month

JAKARTA (JP): With the fasting month of Ramadhan just two days
away, the House of Representatives called on people to delay
staging rallies in the legislative compound.

Chairman of Commission VI for human resources and religious
affairs Ma'ruf Amin said the House compound should be free of any
demonstrations to help legislators maintain the solemn atmosphere
of the holy month.

"Without reducing democratic values, we urge the political
elite and people in the grassroots to honor the holy month,"
Ma'ruf, who also chairs the advisory body of the National
Awakening Party (PKB), said.

He suggested that the political elite refrain from making
controversial statements during the fasting month. Controversy,
he said, was feared to spark misunderstanding and social
conflict.

He hoped people in the grassroots could avoid any actions
which could hamper their fasting ritual, such as expressing anger
and fighting.

"Let's conduct the fasting ritual in harmony and respect each
other," Ma'ruf said.

A similar message was issued by influential Muslim scholar and
leader of Nahdlatul Ulama's Syuriah law-making body Said Aqiel
Siradj and Central Java NU chief Muhammad Adnan, who suggested
that the political elite refrain from making offensive statements
during Ramadhan.

"There is no significant dispute between NU and Muhammadiyah,"
Said Aqiel said, adding that all the nation's elements must join
together ahead of Christmas and Idul Fitri instead of fighting.

Adnan further urged President Abdurrahman, a former NU
chairman, and Assembly Speaker Amien Rais, the former
Muhammadiyah chief, to meet and settle their differences.

"This is an important move to curb greater tension and dispute
among their followers. I think they need to resolve it in a
proper manner," he added.

As hostility between the groups supporting and attacking the
President mounts, historian and rector of the Jakarta-based
Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic Institute (IAIN) Azyumardi Azra
called on both camps on Friday to stop staging mass mobilization
which could end in violence.

"The legislative groups such as Nahdlatul Ulama (NU's) GP
Ansor and its task force Banser and also its groups of opponents
must avoid resorting to violence when dealing with current
issues," Azyumardi told The Jakarta Post on the sidelines of an
international conference on Islam in Indonesia.

"Clashes between these groups will only reflect their failure
to exercise democracy in Indonesia. We have to avoid political
pressure which uses the physical power of mass," he said.

Such a dispute will tarnish the country's image, he said.

Tension or differences in opinions between groups of Muslims,
such as between NU and Muhammadiyah are common, he said.

"Many think that Amien Rais has been too outspoken toward the
President lately. This is actually a common process and we are
not supposed to reply with violence," Azyumardi said.

Furthermore, the professor said it was difficult to predict
the length of Abdurrahman's administration.

"With the Brunei and Bulog scandals and now Tommy's (Hutomo
Mandala Putra) disappearance and reports of the President making
a deal with Tommy, Abdurrahman will likely go through a rough
time." (jun/edt/har)