Nationalism, religion 'must go together'

SEMARANG (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid turned his attention on Monday to the differences between nationalist and religious elements in Indonesian society, saying they both complemented each other.

Speaking at two different events, first at the opening of the Nahdlatul Ulama Muslimat Congress in Jakarta and later at the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) Congress in Semarang, Abdurrahman raised the question of the relationship between religion and the state.

Before a hall filled with over 500 female NU loyalists in Jakarta, Abdurrahman said there was absolutely no need to establish an Islamic state.

It was more important, the President said, to ensure that Islamic values were upheld.

Abdurrahman asserted that his conviction was in part based on NU's principles. He pointed out that a NU congress in 1935 confirmed there was no need to establish an Islamic state, while the 1984 congress accepted Pancasila as the state ideology.

"As President, I adhere to these principles. So there is no need to set up an Islamic state in Indonesia," said Abdurrahman, who until November had chaired NU for 15 years.

Later in the afternoon, Abdurrahman flew to the Central Java provincial capital to officially open the PDI Perjuangan congress.

To a packed auditorium, Abdurrahman underlined the significance of both nationalist and religious elements in society.

He underlined that both emerged from the same society and could therefore live together. And that, moreover, they were mutually strengthening.

"No one adhering to their religious teachings rejects nationhood, and (on the other hand) no one has provoked the existing religions for the sake of nationhood," Abdurrahman said.

"The two are very significant to the nation's life," he said.

Citing the PDI Perjuangan as an important advocate of nationalism, Abdurrahman urged party cadres to clearly define and formulate a suitable form of nationalism for the country, by taking into account the various coexisting elements within society.

"Without a clear formulation of nationalism, we will have an empty sense of nationhood," he said.

Election

Abdurrahman also said in his address that the government would propose a system of direct election for the presidential election in 2004. The proposal will be made to the People's Consultative Assembly when it convenes for its general session in August.

His remarks came in response to PDI Perjuangan chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri's opening speech, in which she said that the (current) unhealthy political system, which did not allow the party that won the election to lead the nation, should be changed.

"We should respect the people's aspirations, which are channeled through elections. A anomaly has happened because of the existing political system," the President said, adding that all political elements were expected to agree to such a change.

"Amien Rais, chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN), has agreed to it. Mbak Mega has already. Now it's 'bang Akbar's turn to make his stance," he remarked.

"However, since we are democratic, it's no problem if he (Golkar Party chairman Akbar Tandjung) disagrees," he said.

The President also called on all major parties to help build a healthy democracy and to fight money politics.

He then took a jab at the continued perceived ill-feeling between PDI Perjuangan and Golkar.

"But they hate Golkar because they do not know the party's new face. Golkar is different now with its new paradigm. I have frequently met with Akbar and discussed many things. I personally know Akbar is a democrat," he said.

Seated in the front row, Akbar could only smile at the compliment.

In his typical jokey style Abdurrahman also reminisced about political events in PDI Perjuangan's struggle.

"If Megawati was dubbed Indonesia's Corazon Aquino, and I was its Cardinal Sin, who was its Marcos?" he remarked.(swa/har/rms)