ICMI calls on students to stop demonstrating

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)