ICMI 'backs' Habibie's bid

ICMI 'backs' Habibie's bid

BANDUNG (JP): The Association of Indonesian Muslim
Intellectuals (ICMI) concluded its congress on Sunday by urging
Muslim parties to unite and establish their own faction -- and to
support incumbent President B.J. Habibie's bid for another term
in office.

The association, widely credited for effecting the progress of
Muslims in the final decade of Soeharto's New Order regime,
circumvented its stated apolitical stance by delivering its
endorsement of Habibie in a "chairman's note". Acting chairman
Achmad Tirtosudiro delivered the message at the end of the
congress, held behind closed doors at Grand Aquilla Hotel.

Constitutional law expert Bagir Manan, who is also an ICMI
member from West Java, told The Jakarta Post that the
association's members believed there was no better and more
acceptable presidential candidate than Habibie.

"But because ICMI is not a political party that can nominate a
person, the aspirations of its members are accommodated in the
chairman's note," he said.

Initiated by students in Malang, East Java, in 1990, the
association's longtime chairman was B.J. Habibie. It developed
rapidly by soliciting the support of Soeharto, Habibie's mentor,
and many high-ranking officials. It was considered instrumental
in the entry of several close Habibie associates into Soeharto's
Cabinets.

The association steadfastly maintains it is apolitical, but
came out in support of students last year in their campaign
against Soeharto.

"It (the support for Habibie) is a form of the association's
political responsibility. Any citizen can support anyone. This
meeting cannot prevent the association's members from voicing
their aspirations," Bagir said.

Achmad refused to confirm or deny Bagir's comments. But he
rejected the suggestion that an endorsement of Habibie translated
into support for the Golkar Party, which has named Habibie as its
sole presidential candidate.

"There's no connection. We are supporting Habibie, not
Golkar."

On the proposed establishment of a faction of Islamic parties,
Bagir said it was in line with "the ethics of legislatures.
Factions are, after all, groupings of parties".

Bagir said it was intended to facilitate the tasks of Islamic
parties in the legislature.

"Please do not mistake it as a mobilization of forces ... it
would not only fight for Muslims but the interests of the nation
through the legislature. But, of course, it would be its right to
fight for Muslims' interests."

Religious groups in the MPR are represented in what are known
as functional groups. This year, the General Elections Commission
(KPU) will approve recommended individuals from nine separate
interest groups, including religious groups.

Details on the selection mechanism are still under debate.

Tension is building ahead of the presidential election, which
may be postponed to December because of delays in the national
tallying of poll results. Validation of the results should occur
a few days after an announcement of the final national tally,
tentatively scheduled for July 21.

Political analysts have described a growing polarization
between supporters of the presidential candidate of the poll's
front-runner, Megawati Soekarnoputri's Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), and supporters of Habibie.

Underscoring the battle for the presidency is the recent
controversy over Megawati's candidacy, with many Islamic groups
objecting to the concept of a woman president.

Achmad said the association did not consider the gender of a
presidential candidate an important precondition for the job.

He qualified the statement with an observance that candidates
must have ability, and that Megawati, so far, had not revealed
her qualifications for the top job.

"She should clarify her visions. She has never said
anything... how can we judge her?" Achmad said.

Acting chairman of the second largest Muslim organization
Muhammadiyah, Ahmad Syafii Ma'arif, told ICMI members on Saturday
that in order to foster democracy Muslim leaders must refrain
from manipulating religious symbols.

He cautioned MPR members to keep in mind that electing an
incapable president would be "dangerous" for the nation.

He said MPR members should be "empowered" in order to make an
independent choice. "They should no longer fear dismissal by the
parties."

He also said the success of secular parties in the polls would
be short-term.

Describing the victory as an "intriguing political phenomena",
Syafii attributed the success of such parties to years of
political suppression, which led to the "inability of people to
think clearly" when casting their ballots.

He said a contributing factor was that most voters could not
differentiate between "substantive and rhetoric reformist forces"
amid the current political euphoria.

"This is the inevitable cost of democracy."

He said with the passing of political euphoria, people would
form a "critical mass" in the next elections, and would defeat
"irrational forces" that were a "historical burden".(43/anr/swe)