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)