Questioning Hamzah Haz

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.