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)