ICMI's statement disappointing

ICMI's statement disappointing

From Bisnis Indonesia

As a member of the executive board of the Indonesian Association of Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI), I was very shocked to hear, and consequently lodged a strong protest against, the statement made by the acting general chairman of ICMI and reported in Kompas on Nov. 16, 1998.

It went as follows: "In response to the demonstrations staged by students and the masses in the capital on Nov. 12 and Nov. 13, resulting in several persons being killed and hundreds wounded, Achmad Tirtosudiro considered this a logical consequence of the performance of the duty of the Armed Forces (ABRI) apparatuses responsible for safeguarding the Special Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

"As several groups were attempting to make their way into the House of Representatives (DPR) building, ABRI certainly had to ensure that the security of the building was well maintained. That some people became victims was a logical consequence because ABRI had to perform its obligation," he said.

The above statement is devoid of any wisdom or humanity. It does not in the least show empathy or sympathy to the victims and their families. Instead, it seemed to justify the brutal acts committed by certain ABRI members for the sake of safeguarding everything which had to be safeguarded.

I cannot in the least understand why ICMI has gone all-out to defend ABRI even to a greater extent than ABRI itself. In fact, ABRI, through the head of its center of information, has expressed its regret, requested that a similar incident should not recur and pledged to carry out an investigation.

I'm convinced the above statement of the acting general chairman of ICMI does not reflect the attitude of most members and the greater part of the executive board. Therefore, I'm questioning his authority to make such a statement.

I have also noted that lately the acting general chairman of ICMI has been unable to control himself in making political statements with an inclination of partisanship so that the allegations that ICMI is a "political institution" have gained foundation from these statements.

I therefore insist that ICMI immediately retract the above statement, apologize to the families of the victims, express regret that there were victims from various parties and ask authorized apparatuses to thoroughly investigate the incident.

If ICMI fails to do this, I regret to say that I will withdraw from the ICMI central executive board and also resign my ICMI membership.

ABDILLAH TOHA

Head of ICMI's

Economic and Production Division

Jakarta