Poll defeat not end of Islamic political life

JAKARTA (JP): Politician Yusril Ihza Mahendra refuted on Sunday suggestions that the defeat Islamic parties suffered at the June 7 polls signified an end to Muslims' political activism.

Addressing over 5,000 people thronging the Al-Azhar Grand Mosque in South Jakarta, the chairman of the Crescent Star Party (PBB) said politics was a never-ending process and that no defeat or victory were eternal.

Too many factors were at play in the June 7 polls that saw millions of Indonesian Muslims supporting the secular Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) led by Megawati Soekarnoputri, Yusril said.

He said a psychological study of the masses, who tend to side with the oppressed, should be carried out. Following the New Order regime's mistreatment of Megawati, she became a symbol of the oppressed.

"Had the (June 7) polls been held following an incident like that in Tanjung Priok (which Muslims believe was a massacre of their brothers in 1994), Islamic parties would have won," Yusril said.

He suggested the defeat be treated as an opportunity for Muslims to introspect, pointing out how Muslim leaders and politicians were so hungry for power that they verbally attacked each another.

He also spoke of the weaknesses in Islamic organizations, citing a saying of Caliphate Ali ibn Abi Thalib that a well organized "evil force" can defeat a disorganized al haq (a force of good).

Yusril, a professor of law from the University of Indonesia who resigned from his post for the sake of his political activities, appeased Muslims' concern about their defeat in the polls. He said the vote counting was not yet over, but that it was likely the leading parties would remain PDI Perjuangan, the ruling Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP), the National Awakening Party (PKB), the National Mandate Party (PAN), PBB and the Justice Party.

Just like the first multiparty polls that Indonesia had in 1955, no parties would be able to claim to be "the winner" of the 1999 polls. Even if PDI Perjuangan won 38 percent of the vote, it could not be called the victor because the runner-up and other leading parties would be on its heels, he said. "Now, this is unlike Golkar, which grabbed 74 percent of the total vote in the 1997 polls," he said, not mentioning by what means Golkar obtained a victory.

Among the consequences of the relatively evenly distributed shares in the vote, Yusril said, was a possible deadlock in the presidential election.

Yusril was speaking at a tabligh akbar (a large gathering) to discuss Muslims' political role after the polls; the event was organized by Asyafi'iyah Islamic Teaching Institute and the Indonesian Committee for World Muslim Solidarity (KISDI). The speakers included Ahmad Sumargono of KISDI.

Some of the speakers criticized Muslim clerics who publicly aired their differences regarding whether Islam allows a woman to become president.

Some Muslim clerics are divided over whether predominately Muslim Indonesia could accept Megawati as the next president, but others point out that using the Islam approach is a political weapon to force her out of the picture. Yet others cite other weaknesses in Megawati's presidential potential -- her perceived lack of political skills and her conservative outlook regarding the reform agenda -- which they believe are more damaging to Megawati's credibility.(swe)