Judaism feared to be lurking in heart of charity

By Riyadi

JAKARTA (JP): The Rotary and Lions Clubs of Indonesia, two organizations that have been active in charity and social work, are strongly denying recent suggestions that there are Zionist influences within their organizations.

Executives from both clubs quickly denied and pointed out the many good works carried out by their members, saying such suggestions are preposterous.

"Zionism? They linked Rotary with Zionism? Don't they know what Rotary has done in Indonesia? What we have done has nothing to do with Zionism," Soedarpo Sastrosatomo said in an interview with The Jakarta Post.

"We are open to suggestions ... But I don't see any indication of (Jewish influence)," Chairman of Lions Club Indonesia Hendrarto said in a separate interview.

Rustam Effendi, a former chairman of the club who was also present at the interview, completely rejected the suggestion of Zionism. "There is no indication at all that Lions Club International is drawing us into this matter."

The issue of Zionist influence on the two organizations was raised at a discussion last week during the release of a book entitled Fakta dan Data Yahudi di Indonesia dan Refleksi Kritis Perdamaian PLO-Israel (Facts and Data about Jews in Indonesia and Critical Reflection on the PLO-Israel Peace Agreement) by politician Ridwan Saidi.

Present at the discussion were Sabam Sirait, member of the House of Representatives, Lukman Hakim of Media Dakwah magazine and Eddi Ellison of the Media Indonesia newspaper.

During the discussion, they also questioned the legality of the Rotary and the Lions in Indonesia. They recalled that a 1962 presidential decree barred Rotary activities.

Both Rotary and the Lions insist that their organizations are legal and fully recognized by the government.

Soedarpo pointed out that the 1962 decree referred to various other organizations, and not only the Rotary Club.

Rotary was re-established in Indonesia in 1970 in compliance with the regulations, he said. "It's wrong if they question our legality. We have adopted Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution as our basic principles."

Pancasila

Hendrarto said that Lions Club Indonesia incorporated Pancasila as its sole ideology in its constitution as far back as 1978, eight years before a law was enacted requiring all mass organizations to uphold Pancasila.

The clubs are service organizations for business and professional people interested in social welfare, high ethical standards and goodwill and peace in the world.

"Service Above Self" and "He Profits Most Who Serves Best" are the motto of the Rotary, while the Lions' is "We Serve."

The present Rotary Club Indonesia was established in 1970 by Pellaupessy, then the minister of information, with businessman Hasyim Ning.

Lions Club Indonesia was set up in 1969 with Lions Club of Jakarta as the first branch in the country.

Many high ranking officials as well as leading entrepreneurs have joined both organizations.

They have been actively involved in various humanitarian works ranging from eradicating polio and cataracts to providing aid for victims of earthquakes and other natural disasters or major accidents.

Lukman Harun of the Committee for Islamic Solidarity, commenting on the debate said the legality of an organization is not a prime question, especially concerning the Lions and Rotary Clubs.

"As far as I know, they are not solid organizations. They are more like gatherings, just like arisan," he said, referring to a tradition in Indonesia in which people, mainly women, pool money and give it to one of the members on a rotational basis.

"If they are simply a kind of gathering, then there is nothing wrong with those groups," Lukman said. "They are just gathering around for prestige because the members are mostly business executives. So, if one can get into the circle, it is something to boast about."

Lukman said Rotary and Lions may have Jewish origins, but he doubted whether those Indonesians who joined the organizations are aware of this given that most enlisted for the prestige that membership entails.

He warned however that these clubs could potentially become Jewish lobbies. "If it's already like this, it's dangerous, they might push their will so that this government recognizes Israel and further opens diplomatic ties. But I have not seen this indication, and hopefully, they are not like that."

Sabam Sirait shared Lukman's view that it is possible that the Lions and Rotary clubs are tools of Zionist infiltration and that those entering the organizations may not realize this.

Commenting on Jewish infiltration in Indonesia, Hendrarto of the Lions stated that if Jews want to infiltrate Indonesia, they can use other organizations.

"Why are Jews so stupid as to use organizations which have been stamped as having Jewish origins? So, I think, they would use other groups or other means," Hendrarto said.

He said if Lions has links with Zionism, it would not be allowed to operate in other Islamic states, such as Egypt, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkey and Malaysia.

Soedarpo pointed out that Rotary too has branches in Islamic countries. "King Hassan of Morroco is a Rotarian," he said.