ICMI elects Adi Sasono to accompany Habibie
ICMI elects Adi Sasono to accompany Habibie
JAKARTA (JP): The congress of the Indonesian Moslem
Intellectuals (ICMI) came to a smooth end yesterday with the re-
election of B.J. Habibie as chairman and the election of activist
Adi Sasono as secretary general.
Chairman of the council of electorate Haryanto Dhanutirto, who
is also Minister of Transportation, read out the results of the
45 council members' negotiations on Friday and yesterday, to the
congress' last plenary session.
Not many surprises occurred, except for the posting of former
minister of environment Emil Salim as member of the advisory
board. Initially, the respected economist had reportedly been a
favorite for the position of chairman of the advisory board, or
even a contender for Habibie.
To loud cheers, Haryanto announced Habibie as chairman of the
1995-2000 executive board of the increasingly powerful and
influential organization which so far has amassed 25,000 members
across the country and abroad.
Watik Pratiknya, chairman of the meeting, closed the plenary
session by leading the some 1,000 participants to yell Allahu
Akbar (Allah is Great) three times.
Habibie himself was absent during the session.
Earlier, Haryanto explained to the gathering that the council
had met on Friday for around six hours to establish an electorate
team of seven, chaired by Habibie himself.
The council also unanimously named Habibie as new ICMI
chairman.
Habibie then led the other team members yesterday in
establishing the impressive line-up of the new executive board,
which some people said reflects an effort to please everybody.
The team named President Soeharto, in a personal capacity, as
chairman of ICMI's board of patrons.
Members of the board are, among others, Vice President Try
Sutrisno, former vice presidents Umar Wirahadikusumah and
Sudharmono, former religious minister Alamsyah Ratuperwiranegara,
Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Azwar Anas, and senior
economist Sumitro Djojohadikusumo.
There are two other ministers in the board of patrons:
Coordinating Minister for Production and Distribution Hartarto
and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Financial Affairs
Saleh Afiff.
Senior ulema K.H. Ali Yafie was named chairman of the advisory
board. The some 1,000 congress participants cheered when Haryanto
announced the names of the 45 board members, which included nine
cabinet ministers, former minister of trade Satrio B. Joedono,
and Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, the eldest daughter of President
Soeharto.
"This organization deserves this kind of attention from the
top leaders of the country," commented Ahmad Totonji, a leader of
the Moslem community in the United States who attended the
congress as an observer.
International relations expert Amien Rais, who is also
chairman of the 28 million-strong Muhammadiyah Moslem
organization, was appointed chairman of ICMI's board of 28
experts.
Included in the list are Edy Sedyawati, the director general
of culture, political observer Amir Santoso, and cooperatives
leader Sri Edi Swasono.
Congress sources said the meeting of the electorate team
encountered last minute glitches over the position of secretary
general.
Although the congress in general reportedly favored Adi for
the post, there had been efforts by some parties to place Jimly
Asshidiqie, a senior bureaucrat at the Ministry of Education, in
the position instead.
In the end, Jimly was named Adi's deputy.
Earlier on the day, the congress also issued a recommendation
which called for greater attention to the problems of social
integration, poverty alleviation, human rights and democracy, and
sustainable development.
The congress was officially closed last night by Coordinating
Minister for People's Welfare Azwar Anas at the Jakarta Hilton
Convention Center. (swe)