Muhammadiyah youth groups oppose Amien's candidacy
Muhammadiyah youth groups oppose Amien's candidacy
Tiarma Siboro and
Ainur R. Sophiaan
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta/Surabaya
Youth organizations affiliated with Muhammadiyah, have opposed
the political stance of the country's second largest Muslim
organization which fully endorsed Amien Rais' presidential bid,
with a call for all elements of the group to maintain neutrality
in the upcoming general elections.
Muhammadiyah Youth Organization, the Association of
Muhammadiyah Students and Muhammadiyah's women's youth wing
Nasiatul Aisyiyah, which are grouped in the Election Education
Network for the People (JPPR), said that they would remain
neutral and maintain the same distance with all political parties
and presidential candidates.
JPPR coordinator Gunawan Hidayat argued that Muhammadiyah had
granted freedom in 1971 for its followers to channel their
political aspirations to promote the election principles of
democracy, objectivity, trust and transparency.
"All members of Muhammadiyah's youth wings have a prominent
role in educating the people on how they can participate in the
elections. We are not driving them to vote for a certain
political party or politician. Therefore, we have to remain
neutral and independent," Gunawan said in a press conference at
Muhammadiyah headquarters here on Friday.
"I will allow those who cannot maintain such a stance to
resign from JPPR," he immediately added.
Muhammadiyah on Tuesday announced its full support for
National Mandate Party Chairman Amien Rais in the first-ever
direct presidential election on July 5.
Amien once led the organization before he established the
National Mandate Party (PAN) in 1998.
Even though Muhammadiyah Chairman Sjafii Maarif has denied
that the organization had intentionally involved itself in
politics, critics had earlier urged Muhammadiyah to review its
decision, saying the move was a political blunder that could
"sacrifice" the organization for political interests.
For the next elections, JPPR has recruited around 142,000
volunteers nationwide to educate people on how they should
exercise their political rights.
The group are also working in cooperation with youth
organizations affiliated with the largest Muslim organization
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and non-Muslim groups to carry out the voter
education program.
Meanwhile in Surabaya, the United Development Party (PPP)
criticized NU Chairman Hasyim Muzadi who called on NU members to
cast their vote for the National Awakening Party (PKB) in the
legislative election, saying such a call could cause conflict
among the grass roots.
PPP Deputy Chairman Hafidz Mas'hoem said NU should not be
involved in politics in order to maintain its political
neutrality.
NU clerics should remain neutral with regards political
parties and allow freedom of choice to promote democratic
elections among the people, he said.
"NU is not synonymous with the National Awakening Party (PKB)
because its members have supported not only the PKB but also
other parties," said Hafidz.
Muhammadiyah and NU have been criticized in the past due to
their involvement in politics in 1999 general election when the
two organizations were led by former president Abdurrahman "Gus
Dur" Wahid and Amien Rais respectively.
Tiarma Siboro and
Ainur R. Sophiaan
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta/Surabaya
Youth organizations affiliated with Muhammadiyah, have opposed
the political stance of the country's second largest Muslim
organization which fully endorsed Amien Rais' presidential bid,
with a call for all elements of the group to maintain neutrality
in the upcoming general elections.
Muhammadiyah Youth Organization, the Association of
Muhammadiyah Students and Muhammadiyah's women's youth wing
Nasiatul Aisyiyah, which are grouped in the Election Education
Network for the People (JPPR), said that they would remain
neutral and maintain the same distance with all political parties
and presidential candidates.
JPPR coordinator Gunawan Hidayat argued that Muhammadiyah had
granted freedom in 1971 for its followers to channel their
political aspirations to promote the election principles of
democracy, objectivity, trust and transparency.
"All members of Muhammadiyah's youth wings have a prominent
role in educating the people on how they can participate in the
elections. We are not driving them to vote for a certain
political party or politician. Therefore, we have to remain
neutral and independent," Gunawan said in a press conference at
Muhammadiyah headquarters here on Friday.
"I will allow those who cannot maintain such a stance to
resign from JPPR," he immediately added.
Muhammadiyah on Tuesday announced its full support for
National Mandate Party Chairman Amien Rais in the first-ever
direct presidential election on July 5.
Amien once led the organization before he established the
National Mandate Party (PAN) in 1998.
Even though Muhammadiyah Chairman Sjafii Maarif has denied
that the organization had intentionally involved itself in
politics, critics had earlier urged Muhammadiyah to review its
decision, saying the move was a political blunder that could
"sacrifice" the organization for political interests.
For the next elections, JPPR has recruited around 142,000
volunteers nationwide to educate people on how they should
exercise their political rights.
The group are also working in cooperation with youth
organizations affiliated with the largest Muslim organization
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and non-Muslim groups to carry out the voter
education program.
Meanwhile in Surabaya, the United Development Party (PPP)
criticized NU Chairman Hasyim Muzadi who called on NU members to
cast their vote for the National Awakening Party (PKB) in the
legislative election, saying such a call could cause conflict
among the grass roots.
PPP Deputy Chairman Hafidz Mas'hoem said NU should not be
involved in politics in order to maintain its political
neutrality.
NU clerics should remain neutral with regards political
parties and allow freedom of choice to promote democratic
elections among the people, he said.
"NU is not synonymous with the National Awakening Party (PKB)
because its members have supported not only the PKB but also
other parties," said Hafidz.
Muhammadiyah and NU have been criticized in the past due to
their involvement in politics in 1999 general election when the
two organizations were led by former president Abdurrahman "Gus
Dur" Wahid and Amien Rais respectively.