Moslems need greater political roles

Moslems need greater political roles

CILOTO, West Java (JP): A senior political scientist has
lashed out at Moslem organizations and the Indonesian government
for preventing Indonesian Moslems from playing more than a merely
marginal role in politics -- internationally and also at home.

Despite perceived improvements in relations between Moslem
societies and the economically powerful countries, Dr. Deliar
Noer believes that Moslems will continue to be marginalized on
both the international and domestic political scenes.

Speaking about the political prospects of Indonesian Moslems
to about 70 Islamic muballigh (propagators) yesterday, Deliar
harshly criticized the numerous organizations which he said had
failed to represent Moslems' interests.

"We cannot talk about Moslem people in this country within a
political context," said the American-educated scholar who leads
a think tank of the Group of Fifty, a group critical of the
government.

"The reason is simple: there's no political party,
organization or institution which attempts to unite Moslems."

He cited some existing institutions which fail to represent
Moslems' real interests, including the government-sponsored
Indonesian Council of Ulemas, the Council for the Propagation of
Islam, and social education organizations like Muhammadiyah and
the Nahdlatul Ulama.

Deliar blamed, variously, Moslem leaders' own shortcomings,
social and political systems which create power imbalances, as
well as Indonesian foreign policy.

He said there are ulemas who are loyal to Islamic teachings,
and there are also those who are oriented to the authorities,
with their frequent coming and goings, he said.

The 70-year academic said the current style of administration
has not helped build the society's independence.

"The dependence on the government is supported by the reality
that people have to ask permission before they can assemble, or
join an organization. There is also a lack of press freedom," he
said.

Deliar also said Indonesian foreign policy has not allowed
local Moslems to contribute to other societies of the same creed.

"Look at the cases of Bosnia Herzegovina, Palestine, Chechnya,
Sudan and Algeria," he said, referring to some predominantly
Moslem nations currently embroiled in armed conflicts. "Regarding
those countries, does Indonesia still apply its 'free and active'
foreign policies which are oriented toward independence?"

He said the country could be more "pragmatically inclined" in
implementing its foreign policies, especially when it comes to
relations with donor countries such as the United States.

"We haven't contributed much to the revival of the world's
Moslems...our role in (various Moslem causes) such as the
Organization of Islamic Conference, have continued to be
limited," he said.

"We no longer stand in the forefront."

Efforts to redress this state of affairs should begin with
Moslems themselves, he said. "They should remember their
responsibility, abide by their moral values and the good conduct
which the Prophet Muhammad taught," he said.

Next, Moslems should strive to improve condition in society.
"The ummah (Moslem community) should seek alternative concepts in
an effort to establish...independent social political
forces...(and) foreign policies which are more loyal to ideals,"
he said.

Deliar twice lost his teaching and administrative posts in two
higher-education institutions in the late 1960s and early 1970s
after delivering critical speeches. (swe)