Muhammadiyah urges Megawati to fight graft

Muhammadiyah urges Megawati to fight graft

Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Makassar, South Sulawesi

The country's second largest Muslim-based organization,
Muhammadiyah, urged President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Sunday to
show her commitment to fighting against rampant corruption in the
country.

Ending a four-day national meeting in Makassar, South
Sulawesi, Muhammadiyah, which has some 30 million members,
underlined that fighting corruption was the main goal of the
reform movement

Muhammadiyah Secretary-general Haedar Nashir said the
administration of Megawati, who took over the national leadership
in July 2001 after the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR)
ousted then president Abdurrahman Wahid for incompetence, had yet
to demonstrate her commitment to curbing corruption.

"Rampant corruption will continue to impoverish the country
should it not be handled seriously," Haedar said, reading out a
series of recommendations issued by the organization at the end
of its annual meeting.

The call came as political tension continues to increase due
to alleged favoritism in the purchase of Russian-made Sukhoi
warplanes, allegedly involving Megawati's close family members.

Members of the House of Representatives suspected that the
President's son-in-law Happy Hapsoro, the husband of her only
daughter, Puan Maharani, played a role in the US$192.6 million
deal for four warplanes and two Mi-35 assault helicopters.

A House working committee is set to begin a probe into the
deal on Monday, with several businessmen and government officials
expected to appear before legislators to shed light on the
affair.

The case is the latest to tarnish Megawati's administration,
which has been widely criticized for not doing enough to stamp
out corruption.

Students from across the country have been holding street
rallies against her administration, questioning her willingness
to deal with graft.

Muhammadiyah also recommended that the government and military
respect human rights in the ongoing military operation in Aceh.

"The government should not prioritize the military operation
as it will only cost the lives of civilians as happened in the
past," Muhammadiyah chairman Syafii Ma'arif said.

"The government should focus on the combined aspect of the
operation in the province to prevent further suffering among the
people," he said, referring to the humanitarian, law enforcement
and local administration resuscitation operations also being
mounted in Aceh.

The government launched a so-called integrated operation on
May 19, which included a security drive aimed at crushing the
secessionist movement in the country's westernmost province.

Concerns over rights abuses by both separatist Free Aceh
Movement (GAM) and the Indonesian Military (TNI) have risen
following reports of mass graves in the province.

Syafii had earlier urged the government to end the war in
Aceh, where GAM has been fighting for independence for the
resource-rich province. Over 10,000 people, mostly innocent
civilians, had been killed over the last years.

Muhammadiyah also continued refraining from throwing its
weight behind any individual presidential candidate.

Muhammadiyah also refused to name Amien Rais, the current
chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) and Syafii's
predecessor as Muhammadiyah secretary-general, as the
organization's presidential candidate.

Syafii said the organization would only support one
presidential candidate, who would be announced later on as the
election came nearer.