PDI-P 'no threat to Islam'

PDI-P 'no threat to Islam'

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) is not out to destroy Islam, noted scholar Nurcholish
Madjid said over the weekend in response to complaints voiced by
leading politicians unhappy with the party's strong showing in
the polls.

Speaking in Batam Island, Riau, on Saturday, he said:
"Islam... cannot be held back by any political party, including
PDI Perjuangan."

The rector of Paramadina University made the comment during a
dialog with Muslim leaders on the island, Antara reported.

On Saturday, leading Muslim politicians Abdurrahman Wahid of
the National Awakening Party (PKB), Hamzah Haz of the United
Development Party (PPP), Nur Mahmudi Ismail of the Justice Party
and Amien Rais of the National Mandate Party (PAN) met to discuss
alternative candidates for the top post to prevent the likelihood
of deadlock in the presidential election.

After 200 ulemas in East Java recently stated their objection
to Megawati's presidential candidacy, 100 of their counterparts
gathered in Central Java said on Saturday they would support
whoever became president and criticized the use of religion for
political interests.

Meeting in the town of Rembang, leaders of Nahdatul Ulama (NU)
urged the Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI) to keep out of
politics. They said the organization was intended to accommodate
the views of all Muslim scholars, a mission which required that
the council refrain from issuing statements in favor of
particular groups.

The clerics, who are from Java, Sumatra, Bali and eastern
Indonesian islands, called on social and religious organizations,
including the MUI, not to become entangled in political power
struggles through issuing statements, edicts or actions made on
behalf of Islam and the authority of ulemas.

Muslim figures have raised concern over the fate of their
aspirations should PDI Perjuangan lead the government and
legislative bodies because of its many non-Muslim legislative
candidates.

A PDI Perjuangan official confirmed that 30 percent of its 600
legislative candidates were non-Muslims.

A more pressing problem, Nurcholish said, was Muslims'
observation of Islamic teachings. "We have to step up Koran
reading sessions at offices, homes and factories," he added.

A win for PDI Perjuangan in the polls is a victory for the
people oppressed under the New Order regime, he added.

"Indonesia has been independent since 1945 but people have
only tasted freedom since they were freed of Pak Harto after he
quit his presidency," Nurcholish said in reference former
president Soeharto.

"Now we're just learning to be free, and are making several
mistakes in the process."

Nurcholish said the much-predicted victory for PDI Perjuangan,
which leads in provisional poll results, should be understood to
have a "psychological link with the undemocratic system of
government under the New Order".

He hoped a legitimate government could be formed as quickly as
possible and the next five years used to establish a better
democracy.

Nurcholish added that leading parties, including PDI
Perjuangan and PKB, still needed to find qualified personnel.
Megawati's party recently held a workshop with intellectuals.

Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid shared the NU clerics'
view and said there was no constitutional barrier to a candidate
of either sex who received necessary public support channeled
through the People's Consultative Assembly.

"A female president is OK. I'm talking about the Constitution,
which does not differ for male or female candidates," Syarwan
said on the sidelines of his visit to the Bali Art Festival in
Denpasar on Saturday.

He said that women and men were equal before the law, with the
only differences concerning their respective skills and
capabilities.

"Both men and women are given an equal chance to improve
themselves in a bid to support the development of democracy in
our civilized society."

He was circumspect in commenting on the religious beliefs and
values coloring the discourse on the presidential elections. He
noted that a group opposed to a political candidate would do its
utmost to turn public opinion in its favor.

Syarwan recommended that parties reach a compromise due to the
possibility that no party would hold an outright majority in the
House of Representatives.

"If the winning party insists on a one-man-show, it will be
hard for it to cope with difficulties the country is facing...
The heavy burden must be shared," he said.

"The, let's say, collective leadership composes a grouping
which is able to accommodate heterogeneous components of the
nation."

The 17 August 1945 Foundation, an organization linked to
founding president Sukarno's family, concurred in noting
compromise might be the best solution to break the stalemate.

"But a compromise must not ignore the people's choice," said
foundation spokesman Soepeno Sumardjo. "They have
enthusiastically exercised their political rights across the
country, even those who are overseas." (anr/amd/vin)