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)