'ICMI not a political corridor'

JAKARTA (JP): Questions about the role of the Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI) lingered on Saturday as experts discussed the organization's development during the five years since its foundation.

At a seminar held in preparation for the organization's second national conference in December, ICMI executives defended the group's existence while conceding that there are misperceptions about its objectives.

"Let's never get weary of explaining to the public that the ICMI is not, and will not think of becoming, a political corridor, or even of acting as if it were a political organization," said Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto, a leading member of the ICMI.

Founded on Dec. 7, 1990, the ICMI is now headed by State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie.

It boasts an impressive list of political figures in its advisory and executive boards, including Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Azwar Anas, Minister of Information Harmoko, Coordinating Minister for Economy and Finance Saleh Afiff and Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher.

Due its close affiliation with the political and business elite, the ICMI is often perceived as a vehicle to mobilize political support and gain other advantages.

Collusion

Political scientist Amir Santoso told the seminar that allegations of such collusion are not entirely unfounded.

"It has to be candidly admitted that there are those who have acquired positions in the bureaucracy through their affiliations in the ICMI," said the professor from the University of Indonesia.

He added, however, that such cases are few in number and that the positions so acquired have been only middle-level rather than high-level.

"There are a few ministers who were rumored to have been appointed because of their connections with the ICMI, but there are also those who say their appointment as ministers was due, not to the ICMI, but to their long service to Habibie," Amir said.

He said the perceived relationship between the ICMI and the government often creates discomfort among non-Moslems. The ICMI must work hard to allay those suspicions, he added.

"There needs to be an attitude which demonstrates that the ICMI is not a threat; (not a force) which kills minority groups, but it is a fair competitor in the political arena," he said.

Political

Although the ICMI does not describe itself as a political organization, Dawam Rahardjo, a member of the organization's council of experts, noted that one of its missions is political, social and economic integration.

"Integration between the Islamic congregation and the state is a good foundation for the democratization process," said Dawam, who is also director postgraduate studies at Muhammadiyah University in Malang, East Java.

Yusril Ihza Mahendra, lecturer in government studies at the University of Indonesia, maintained that when the ICMI was formed it was hoped that it could bring about social-political change.

"But hopes that the ICMI would make an important contribution in developing political ethics, something quite putrid in our society, have not been realized," Yusril said.

He said that the very closeness of the ICMI to political power restricts its ability to avoid the personal and opportunistic interests of certain groups and individuals.

"A criticism which should be pondered is, thus, how far the ICMI can contribute to the process of the democratization of the nation," Yusril said.

Amir Santoso said that at the time of the ICMI's establishment many of its leaders had been noted campaigners for greater democracy. He added that this was no longer perceived to be the case. (mds)