MUI invites top leaders for 'talks'

JAKARTA (JP): In a bid to help the bickering members of the political elite mend their relationships, the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) has invited five top national leaders to attend a post-fasting get-together here this week.

MUI chief Amidhan said on Saturday that President Abdurrahman Wahid, Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais, House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung and noted Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid headed the list of invitees.

"This is not purported to be an extraordinary meeting. It's just a social gathering between MUI executives to which top national figures are being invited in their personal capacities," Amidhan told The Jakarta Post.

He admitted, however, that the presence of the five figures could bring about a positive psychological atmosphere in the troubled nation.

"Their attendance at the same forum will impress the public. Besides, if they come and sit down together they may have some sort of conversation," Amidhan said.

He added that so far none of the leaders had rejected the invitation but had rather said through their respective secretaries that they would like to come.

Megawati, however, will definitely be absent from the meeting, as she is still on an official overseas trip and due to return home only on Tuesday, while the other four have not yet confirmed their presence.

It is not the first attempt to reconcile top political figures since cracks appeared among them just after they filled key state posts following the country's first fully democratic election in July 1999.

Yogyakarta sultan and governor Hamengku Buwono X was the first to assemble Abdurrahman, Megawati, Amien Rais and Akbar Tandjung together at his palace. That meeting resulted in an agreement to reduce tension, particularly between the President and his critics in the Assembly.

Reality bit, however, as the agreement was never realized and the conflicts involving the four leaders worsened. Many have expressed fears that the bickering would hamper the progress of the reform movement that the four leaders had previously committed themselves to upholding.

Amidhan said the MUI could not be expected to suggest that the political leaders resolve their disputes or announce a joint statement during the meeting.

"Let's just see whether they intend to come or not," he remarked.(dja)