ICMI defends Saefuddin over Hindu defamation
ICMI defends Saefuddin over Hindu defamation
JAKARTA (JP): The influential Association of Indonesian Moslem
Intellectuals (ICMI) came to the defense of its member State
Minister of Food and Horticulture A.M. Saefuddin on Tuesday,
saying he had not intended any ill will when he made recent
remarks Hindus have considered offensive.
Acting ICMI chairman Achmad Tirtosudiro, accompanied by
association executives including Parni Hadi and Jimly
Asshiddiqqie, convened a media conference to speak about, among
other things, the growing calls from the Balinese and many others
that President B.J. Habibie dismiss Saefuddin over the remarks.
"ICMI cannot agree to the dismissal of (Saefuddin),"
Tirtosudiro said. "If (Habibie) dismisses Saefuddin, then next
time, there could be other (ministers sacked just because of
people's demands).
"I know Saefuddin very well and I know he did not mean to
insult other beliefs," Tirtosudiro said of the minister who is a
member of the ICMI council of experts and an executive of the
Moslem-based United Development Party (PPP).
"ICMI therefore joins Saefuddin in his apology to Hindus," he
said. "We respect other faiths."
Achmad clarified that Saefuddin, in an interview with
reporters at the state secretariat two weeks ago, had only asked
what would happen if the next presidential candidate was a person
who adhered to two religions.
He was referring to the chairwoman of the splintered
Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), Megawati Soekarnoputri, who
has been pictured several times praying in Hindu temples in Bali.
Saefuddin also said predominantly Moslem Indonesia would not
tolerate a Hindu president. The remarks offended the
predominantly Hindu Balinese who then went on street
demonstrations demanding that the minister be dismissed.
Their call received support from various quarters. Former
minister of home affairs Rudini urged Habibie on Tuesday to take
strong action against Saefuddin.
Habibie has refused to bow to the calls, saying he would not
reshuffle his cabinet and that he was satisfied with all of his
ministers' performance.
Rudini conceded that it was Habibie's prerogative to either
retain or dismiss Saefuddin. "But, in this reform era, the
President should be responsive to people's aspirations," he said.
Let. Gen. Agum Gumelar, governor of the National Resilience
Institute, the military's think-tank, called for peace and an end
to the matter.
He said Saefuddin's apology should be enough, but that
dismissal was an alternative.
However, he warned that the case could be manipulated by
certain parties seeking to further their own political interests.
Faisal Baasir, a legislator of the United Development Party
(PPP) faction, warned on Tuesday of counter protests from Moslem
groups who supported Saefuddin.
He said several Moslem groups in Jakarta had started the
campaign to counter anti-Saefuddin protests in Bali.
"Several Moslem groups in Lombok have also begun staging
counter protests against the Balinese people's excessive reaction
(to Saefuddin's remarks)," he said in Mataram, West Nusa
Tenggara.
Faisal, chairman of House Commission II for home affairs, was
in Mataram with the commission on a five-day field tour.
"The (Balinese) reaction is excessive. The case should have
ended with Saefuddin's apology," he said.
On Tuesday, a group of 15 Moslem youths staged a demonstration
near the House of Representatives compound. A banner held by a
demonstrator read Jangan memaksa kami melakukan jihad (Do not
force us to launch a holy war).
Saleh Khalid, another PPP legislator, urged Megawati to
respond by stating her religion to the public.
"Megawati should not keep her silence. She has a moral
responsibility to clarify her faith. If she adheres to Islam why
did she attend a Hindu ritual? If she was not a Hindu, why did
she not deny (Saefuddin's remarks)?," he said. (rms/swe)