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)