ICMI calls on students to stop demonstrating

YOGYAKARTA (JP): The acting chairman of the Association of Moslem Scholars (ICMI), Ahmad Tirtosudiro, has said the association hopes that students will stop demonstrating to enable a peaceful presidential succession to take place.

"ICMI wants a peaceful presidential succession," Ahmad said on Friday in response to continuous students demonstrations. "Let's stop demonstrating... we've been dreaming of an end to demonstrations, especially in Jakarta," he said. "Students can go on demonstrating as long as they continue with their studies and as long as they stay on campus. We get headaches in Jakarta with all the congestion resulting from the protests."

Ahmad was speaking after addressing a meeting of the organization here on Friday, one day before it convenes a two-day national gathering. Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X is scheduled to open the event.

Ahmad has been acting chairman since B.J. Habibie resigned from the post following his appointment as vice president in March this year.

Among the targets of the recent demonstrations has been what the students say is slow progress made by the government toward meeting their promise to investigate the wealth of former president Soeharto.

On Friday, Attorney General Andi Mohammad Ghalib said an investigation could start next week after the President passed a decree on the matter on Thursday.

"The presidential decree is proof that he (President B.J. Habibie) does have the guts to investigate Soeharto in contrast to widespread allegations," Ahmad said, adding: "It was only a matter of time and preparation."

ICMI's national gathering is being held to affirm the organization's stance on the reform agenda, Chairil Anwar, who chaired the organizing committee, said on Thursday. He explained that the aim was to issue recommendations on the state policy guidelines and foreign policy strategies following a loss in the country's credibility as a result of the economic crisis.

Organizers of the gathering at the Amabrukmo Hotel in Yogyakarta said they were not sure if the list of patrons would be reviewed. The list currently includes former president Soeharto.

Chairil, who is the chairman of the association's Yogyakarta branch, said ICMI acknowledged the government success in efforts to strengthen the rupiah and restore credibility in the eyes of the international community, but warned that the authorities must not rest on their laurels.

A number of leading national figures and seven ministers who are members of the association will attend the gathering. The ministers are Muslimin Nasution, Ginandjar Kartasasmita, Adi Sasono, A.M. Saefuddin, Sholeh Shalahudin, Rahardi Ramelan and Tutty Alawiyah.

Recent suggestions that ICMI is a tool of the political elite will also be discussed at the meeting.

Chairil pointed out that the association had not reprimanded critical members such as Amien Rais, who now chairs the National Mandate Party, and former political prisoner Sri Bintang Pamungkas, who now chairs the Indonesian Democratic Union Party.

On Friday, Ahmad said ICMI members who are currently serving in the Cabinet gained their positions in the government on merit and not because of their connection to the association.

"ICMI has never pushed for its members to sit in the legislature, the Cabinet or the presidency," he said, pointing out that the association is not a political party.

ICMI was set up on Dec. 15, 1990, by a number of noted Islamic scholars. (44/anr)