Questioning Hamzah Haz

Vice President Hamzah Haz is known as a controversial figure. He often deliberately breaks the official government line, raising eyebrows here and there, and causing people to question his true stance.

For example, last year he said that a clause requiring all Muslims to observe Islamic syariah law should be incorporated in the Constitution, although later he backed down and changed his stance.

Consequently, more than once Hamzah has been criticized for his "un-vice presidential" attitude. His defense has normally been that he was acting not in his capacity as Vice President but as the chairman of the United Development Party (PPP).

Earlier this week, Hamzah Haz did it again. On Tuesday he paid a one-and-a-half-hour visit to the detained commander of Laskar Jihad, Ja'far Umar Thalib, in his cell at National Police Headquarters. Claiming that his visit was in his capacity as a private citizen "who happens to be the chairman of the United Development Party (PPP)", Hamzah reportedly also said that it was an obligation for a Muslim to visit another Muslim who was in trouble.

Hamzah explained that during the visit nothing related to the due process of law in respect of Ja'far was discussed. "What we discussed was how to resolve the Ambon problem. There was no deal whatsoever", he said.

But earlier, on a different occasion, when asked by reporters why as Vice President he had visited a suspect accused of inciting hatred against the President, Hamzah reportedly smiled and said "What's wrong with it? We're Muslim brothers. There's nothing wrong with visiting someone in trouble and sympathizing".

Understandably, the unprecedented visit and the inconsistency of Hamzah's explanations, has caused uproar. Most critics questioned the visit and called it "inappropriate" or "unethical". Some even accused the Vice President of trying to win the sympathies of Muslims in preparation for the 2004 election.

More eyebrows were raised when later it was reported that some sort of deal had indeed been reached during the visit.

According to the Koran Tempo daily, Eggi Sudjana, a Muslim labor activist who accompanied Hamzah during the visit, revealed that Ja'far had agreed to withdraw the Laskar Jihad militia from Ambon on condition that the military and police would guarantee the safety of Muslims in Maluku.

According to Eggi, both Ja'far and Hamzah Haz agreed to jointly visit Ambon after Ja'far's release to attend a ceremony where Laskar Jihad would surrender their weapons to the authorities.

It is obvious then that Hamzah Haz's visit was not simply an ordinary visit. Thus, the term "unethical" seems to be the most apt description of the visit.

Hamzah should have known better given that Ja'far was detained on charges of agitation and slanderous remarks directed against the President and Vice President. Hamzah may argue that everyone should be presumed innocent until found guilty by the court. Or that the recording of the speech made by Ja'far, which is being used by the police as evidence, was not legally admissible in court.

But, Hamzah should also remember that the recording also contained remarks by Ja'far not only calling on Muslims to fight against non-Muslims until the last drop of their blood had been spilled, but also signifying Ja'far's intention of killing the relatives of the late former president Sukarno, whose daughter is President Megawati Soekarnoputri. The recordings may later be proved to have been doctored, but the mere suspicion that Ja'far expressed such a threat should remind Hamzah that above all he is the Vice President whose duty, among others things, is to assist the President.

Hamzah's remark that he is obliged to visit Ja'far because he is a Muslim brother is also regrettable as it could be interpreted as sidelining the millions of non-Muslim Indonesians.

No one would argue that the question of whether or not Ja'far is guilty should be decided by the courts. There is also no argument against the fact that solidarity among Muslims, or even better among all Indonesians, should be maintained and encouraged. But, Hamzah Haz as the Vice President and a seasoned politician should show better judgment and wisdom by putting the national interest first before making a move that is so heavily laden with personal interest

We all know that the President and Vice President have to work in tandem, and if one of the duo tends to veer in a different direction, whatever the reason may be, the whole nation will be jeopardized.

In conclusion, it is sad to reflect that we obviously have many more politicians than we have statesmen.