ICMI offers itself as 'glue' to Islamic parties

JAKARTA (JP): The influential Association of Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals (ICMI) campaigned Sunday for the unity of Muslim political parties, offering itself as the "glue" to bring them all together.

ICMI executives said here that a "caucus" of Islamic parties was a "very urgent" need in order to promote Muslim brotherhood and to prepare for a new government after the elections.

Without referring to President B.J. Habibie, its former chairman, ICMI's statement said: "... there is a need (for leaders of the Islamic political parties) to look for and determine a figure who is the most plausible national leader."

But ICMI acting chairman Achmad Tirtosudiro added the organization would be ready to lend support to "whoever becomes the president" after a free and fair general election.

He said the organization had started lobbying key figures of the concerned parties.

Out of 48 political parties ready to vie for seats in the House of Representatives and regional legislatures in the June polls, there are at least 10 parties which are Islamic-orientated by party name and five others citing Islam as their only principle in their party statutes.

Observers say that two other major parties, the National Awakening Party (PKB) under renowned figure Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid and the National Mandate Party (PAN) under leading reform figure Amien Rais symbolize the country's Muslim mainstream groups.

The two latter parties have nominated their leading figures as president. Another strong poll contender claiming to enjoy wide Muslim support, the Crescent Star Party (PBB), has nominated its chairman Yusril Ihza Mahendra as its candidate.

In the statement summarizing results of the organization's three-day national coordination meeting here ICMI said: "Among those Islamic-orientated parties, ICMI positions itself as a glue which keeps the same distance from each (parties)" and was ready to work with them.

Set up in 1990, ICMI, which comprises intellectuals and leading politicians and officials, also said Indonesia needs development orientated to Islam.

Pancasila

"Efforts to develop a society based on Pancasila (state ideology) through partial and sectoral means, especially materialism and individualism, have failed -- mainly from the aspect of justice."

Islam-oriented development among other things would lead to "low consumption rates, high savings, intensive resources management and a just, honest and efficient social-economic process."

ICMI also declared it supported the government's move to normalize the riot-torn Ambon city while calling for the government to be transparent in announcing fatalities in the communal conflict, which some believed be far above the official figures of 182 deaths.

ICMI urged East Timorese to be "realistic" in making their decision over Indonesia's alternatives for a settlement over the troubled territory.

It also urged the government to bring about a more balanced state budget in Irian Jaya and West Kalimantan. (aan)