Moslems will never again 'be neglected'

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Political observer Riswandha Imawan from Gadjah Mada University has been closely following the government's effort to win Moslems' hearts. He discussed the issue with The Jakarta Post.

Question: Why is the government working hard to win Moslems' hearts?

Answer: There's a paradox to this situation. On the one hand, Moslem politicians now have a strong bargaining position. This is the best time Moslems have ever had in the political arena since independence.

On the other hand, we are observing that Moslem politicians appear to be on a collision course. Gus Dur (Abdurrahman Wahid of Nahdlatul Ulama) and Buya (Ismail Hasan Metareum of the United Development Party or PPP) are two examples.

Buya tends to base his leadership on a "rational legitimacy" whereas Gus Dur relies on his charisma. Both are strong, but are in conflict because of the difference in how they justify their leadership.

PPP leader Ismail Hasan sees the members of Nahdlatul Ulama as its constituents, while NU leaders do not see the organization as a part of PPP, especially because Ismail Hasan once purged its leaders from the party.

Q: Is it the friction among leading Moslem figures that prompted Golkar leaders, such as Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, to approach Gus Dur?

A: That's certainly one factor. There are other vested interests. Tutut (Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana) and Golkar want to increase the grouping's votes from among NU members by befriending Gus Dur. Besides, she wants to clear away any roadblocks to a possible vice presidency bid by seeking legitimacy from influential religious leaders such as Gus Dur.

Gus Dur himself needs political protection from a figure like Tutut and (Army Chief of Staff) Gen. R. Hartono. There is yet another factor, namely promised financial assistance for NU.

Gus Dur is a pragmatist. He can work with anyone as long as they help his organization develop.

Q: About the fight over Moslems' votes?

A: There have always been fights to win Moslems' votes, but this time the conflict is more intense. Moslems, who are in the majority here, have so far been neglected politically by political forces such as Golkar.

Now Golkar realizes how important it is to win Moslems' hearts, especially after the sectarian unrest in Situbondo, Tasikmalaya, and other cities.

Q: Is it only Golkar which is enthusiastic to win Moslems' support?

A: Golkar wants to regain the votes it lost in various areas in the 1992 election ... That was an embarrassing loss. That's why it is now fighting hard to win back the support. In order to reach its goal of 70.02 percent of the votes, it must target Moslems, a group that it had previously neglected.

There are a number of factors why having Islamic support is so important now. First, there's the massive and intensive dakwah (Islamic propagation) movement throughout society. Second, any figure or group currently wishing to take any national leading role must have the blessing of Moslems, the Armed Forces and the intellectuals. No one can exist for long without the support of these three groups.

Q: Which figure currently has the support of all three?

A: I think Tutut does. Through General Hartono, she is close to the Armed Forces. She is close to the intellectuals through her ties with political observers such as Nazaruddin Syamsuddin, and she is close to religious groups through Gus Dur.

(State Minister of Research and Technology) B.J. Habibie's position has weakened. He is not close to religious leaders and he's losing the support of intellectuals after (Moslem scholar) Amien Rais resigned from ICMI.

Q: But when Amien Rais "stepped down" from ICMI, didn't it prompt Moslems to turn away from Golkar and the government?

A: Yes, but the impression was successfully created that Amien was not sidelined by the government or Golkar, but by ICMI itself. Some people were able to read between the lines and understand the government had played a role in the affair, but the majority could not. They saw the whole thing as an ICMI problem. Not many people altered their allegiance.

Q: Besides, Golkar already has Gus Dur, doesn't it?

A: Remember, Gus Dur can be an unpredictable person. There's the possibility that he has been playing with Golkar, not the other way around.

The massive gatherings he attended with Tutut could be interpreted as his support for Golkar, but it's not necessarily true. Those gatherings took place in big cities where most people no longer rely on charismatic leaders. Golkar can't win the hearts of most NU members in the rural areas by campaigning in the big cities.

Q: Some people find it abhorrent that Gus Dur and Moslems are being used by Golkar. After they are no longer needed, what will happen to them?

A: That happened in the past but it won't anymore. Because, whoever wants a leading position in Indonesia, like it or not, must have the support of Moslems. Besides, the majority of those in power now are Moslem figures. Internationally, there has been an increased respect for Islam. So, no political power can afford to neglect Islam anymore. (38)