Observers ask Amien to remain outspoken
UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi (JP): Political observers have called on Moslem scholar Amien Rais, who has just relinquished his leading position in the Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI), to remain outspoken and continue fighting for better economic and political conditions.
Abdurrahman A. Basalamah and Muhammad Kausar Bailusy, both of Hasanuddin University, said that the transfer of Amien from the chairmanship of the association's Council of Experts to a member of its Board of Advisors should not stop him from speaking out against injustices.
"He shouldn't become less critical of injustices," Basalamah said. "The transfer should make him, instead, even more forthright in his criticism of the government."
Basalamah, one of ICMI's founders, expressed confidence that Amien's resignation would not necessarily curtail his activities as a government critic.
A plenary meeting led by organization chairman B.J. Habibie decided Monday to "accept" Amien's resignation as chairman of the association's Board of Experts and to make him a member of the Board of Advisors under noted ulema Ali Yafie.
Habibie said Amien had asked to resign from his post last year, on the grounds that his heavy Muhammadiyah workload had made it difficult for him to function effectively in ICMI.
He denied allegations that Amien was forced to resign because of his critical stance on several government policies, including the activities of the giant American mining company PT Freeport Indonesia in Irian Jaya and the planned gold mining operation in Busang, East Kalimantan.
Amien is currently leader of the 28-million-strong Muhammadiyah Moslem Organization.
Bailusy said he had seen nothing wrong with Amien's activities and statements in the past. "He has done everything that an intellectual or a religious leader has to do, that is to tell the truth," he said. "The problem is the government is reluctant to accept criticism."
Bailusy agreed with Basalamah that Amien should not be any less outspoken now that he was not in such a leading position in the association.
Although it does not necessarily affect many people, Amien's resignation from the council of experts does not bode well for academics and intellectuals within the association or in general because it indicated a loss of freedom of thought.
He compared Amien to politicians Sri Bintang Pamungkas and Megawati Soekarnoputri who lost their places on the political center stage because of their critical outspokenness.
United Development Party Chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum said here Tuesday that people should not misunderstand Amien's resignation.
"Amien did not resign because he was disappointed with the association, but because of his heavy schedule in Muhammadiyah," Ismail said.
In Jakarta, Muhammadiyah deputy chairman Lukman Harun said Amien should not involve the organization, whose activities mainly cover education and social work, in politics.
"Involving the organization in practical politics is against its basic guidelines," Lukman said yesterday.
He declined to say whether Amien has overstepped boundaries as chairman of the organization established 84 years ago, but he agreed that Amien should be replaced by another Muhammadiyah leader in ICMI.
"The replacement should come form the Muhammadiyah Central Board at the very least," he said.
Habibie said that it has been decided that Amien's successor would come from Muhammadiyah. He named Fuad Bawazier, a member of the association's board of advisors and Director General for Taxes, as a likely candidate. (30/imn)