PPP asks ulemas to reach political consensus

PPP asks ulemas to reach political consensus

JAKARTA (JP): The United Development Party (PPP) asked ulemas
from all the three political groups yesterday to convene before
the May 29 general election in order to reach political
consensus.

PPP chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum said in a post-Idul Fitri
gathering with some 300 ulemas from all over Indonesia that the
meeting is expected to decide on moral guidance both for
political groups and the government.

"The meeting, if approved, should be aimed at reminding the
ulemas of their mission in the election.

"Ulemas are not tools of political groups to win general
elections. They are responsible for building the political morale
of each political group they are affiliated with."

Ismail said that the PPP called for the meeting to avoid rifts
between ulemas from different political affiliations. "We don't
want to see ulemas belonging to the PPP, Golkar, or the PDI.
Ulemas have a duty to maintain unity, harmony and popularity
among the masses," he said.

The general election will be contested by the PPP, the
dominant political group Golkar and the Indonesian Democratic
Party (PDI), who will vie for 425 of 500 House of Representatives
seats.

A number of the ulemas that appeared on the provisional list
of legislative candidates released by the parties last month have
a good chance of securing House seats.

Among the 300 ulemas attending the gathering were Ali Hasyim
Latief, Maimun Zubair, Latief Muchtar, Kaoy Syah, all of whom are
legislative candidates from East Java, Central Java, West Java
and Aceh, respectively, and Alawy Muhammad of Madura.

The PPP consists of four Moslem parties which merged in 1973
following the government's decision to reduce political groups
eligible to take part in general elections from 10 to three. It
was common in the past for ulemas to pledge their allegiance to
the PPP.

Ismail said that the PPP has nothing against ulemas joining
other political groups, though he branded those who broke away
from his party as not having followed up on the 1973 "mission of
fusion".

He said that in the wake of overwhelming moral decay in public
life, ulemas must help instill an ethical political behavior.

"The ulemas' credibility is at stake. If they do nothing to
stop cheating, political discrimination and intimidation, they
only serve to attract the Moslem vote," Ismail said.

The assistant to the Armed Forces chief of sociopolitical
affairs, Maj. Gen. Budi Harsono, was present at yesterday's
gathering.

Budi, representing his superior Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid, called
on ulemas to make full use of the national alert posts introduced
by the government to maintain unity prior to the general
election.

"The political climate is expected to heat up and the election
climate needs to be anticipated by the government and informal
leaders like ulemas," Budi said.

He said that recent incidents of public unrest over the past
few months were likely provoked by groups that disseminated
misleading information.

Ethnic and sectarian riots have jolted the country since
October last year. Security authorities deny that the
disturbances were triggered by the same groups.

"People react to certain information differently. Some are
easily incited as the recent riots proved," Budi said.

He asked ulemas to use the alert posts to discuss relevant
matters with government officials and said that ulemas should
encourage the masses to develop tolerance and recognition of
differences.

"Those commitments will boost democracy and sustainable
development," he said. (amd)