MPR not a conflict zone: MUI

MPR not a conflict zone: MUI

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): The Indonesian Ulemas Council
(MUI) for eastern Indonesia closed its three-day internal meeting
on Wednesday with a call to the political elite not to use next
month's upcoming People's Consultative Assembly General Session
to score points against each other.

The council recommended that the political elite set a good
example to the people by not demonstrating negative attitudes and
making conflicting and hostile statements, the council's
spokesman Arifuddin Cawidu told The Jakarta Post.

Eastern Indonesia covers provinces in Sulawesi, Kalimantan,
Maluku and Irian Jaya.

"The politicians should restrain themselves in a bid to create
a peaceful atmosphere which would be conducive for the ending of
the nation's crises," he said.

"We would also suggest that they (the politicians) include
efforts to deal with the conflicts occurring in certain areas of
the country in their agenda. The present economic woes, which
have inflicted great suffering on the people, also need special
attention," he said.

On the other hand, the council also urged President
Abdurrahman Wahid not to regard criticism as an attempt to unseat
him.

"He must accept criticism as being part of the effort to
rebuild society and the country. Indonesians are paternalistic,
meaning that whatever (political) leaders, including the
President, say could generate new crises," Arifuddin said.

"Let's not make the situation worse. Let's give the people
better political education," he said, alleging that the prolonged
conflicts in some areas in the archipelago were the result of the
political actions of certain 'people in Jakarta.'

Arifuddin reiterated the council's rejection of foreign
interference in inter-religious or communal conflicts at home.
(27/sur)