Opinions vary on Amien's exit from ICMI experts body

Opinions vary on Amien's exit from ICMI experts body

JAKARTA (JP): Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and
Security Soesilo Soedarman has strongly refuted speculation that
Moslem scholar Amien Rais was a victim of government meddling in
Moslem organizations.

"That's not true," he told reporters yesterday. "I don't see
(Amien) as being victimized. You're all wrong," he said.

"I'm not going to give any comments about what Amien Rais has
said about coal mining projects," he said. "Just follow whatever
ICMI (the Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals) has
decided on Amien."

Amien resigned as chairman of the influential organization's
Council of Experts on Monday, citing his heavy workload as
chairman of the 28-million-strong Muhammadiyah Moslem
organization and as a politics lecturer at Gadjah Mada University
in Yogyakarta. He was transferred to the association's Board of
Advisors.

Association chairman B.J. Habibie said the organization
"accepted" Amien's resignation and would soon announce his
successor.

The resignation, however, fueled speculation that Amien was
actually forced to resign because of his critical remarks over
the activities of the giant American mining company PT Freeport
Indonesia in Irian Jaya and the planned foreign investment in the
Busang gold mining project in East Kalimantan.

Amien has declared that he had not been pressured into
resigning. As for the speculation that he had become a liability
because of his forthright opinions, he said: "It could be right
or wrong."

Dawam Rahardjo, the association's deputy chairman, said
yesterday that the resignation could be the right move for Amien.

"He is a very busy man, obviously he doesn't have enough time
to concentrate on all of the organizations he belongs to." Dawam,
however, believed that Amien should now take a "softer stance."

"Amien will always be associated with Muhammadiyah and his
statements will be regarded as the views of the organization,
despite his claims that he was merely expressing personal
opinions.

"I think it would be better if Amien speaks less on political
issues."

Dawam said that as Amien was such an influential figure in
society his outspokenness on many issues had no doubt affected
many people, particularly within Muhammadiyah.

He conceded that Amien might have spoken out of his concern
for the welfare of the nation.

"I respect his views, but as the chairman of Muhammadiyah, it
would be wiser for him to avoid making political statements,
especially if those statements are only going to hinder the
association," he added.

Balance

ICMI has promised to place another Muhammadiyah member in the
chair of the Council of Experts.

Yahya Muhaimin, a council member, said the decision was
reached by a consensus of the association's think-tank.

However, he denied that the consensus would prevent
standardized requirements being fulfilled for a chairman of the
council.

"We will maintain the balance (within the intellectual
group) ... But the first requirement to meet is capability," he
said.

Yahya, a colleague of Amien's at Gadjah Mada University's
School of Social and Political Sciences, also said that Amien's
resignation had not had anything to do with his outspoken
criticism.

"We have to think positively. I believe he (Amien) and ICMI
reached the decision for the sake of the national interest. I
know well that Amien always spends a lot of time on activities
related to the grassroots. This is exhausting."

Yahya, also a member of Muhammadiyah's leadership board,
declined to comment on his chances of taking Amien's place.

"As a good citizen, I'm ready for any duties, but I don't want
to count any eggs before they are hatched," he said.

Yahya is expected to take up a diplomatic post at the
Indonesian Embassy to the United States. (12/amd/imn)