Religious leaders pledge neutrality

Religious leaders pledge neutrality

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Religious leaders pledged on Wednesday to remain neutral in the
general election and appealed to the followers of the various
religions to maintain their composure in the face of provocation
from political parties.

Muhammadiyah Chairman Ahmad Syafii Maarif, Solahuddin Wahid
from Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Indonesian Communion of Churches
(PGI) Chairman Rev. Nathan Setiabudi said the religious groups
had no connection with any religion-based political parties.

"Those parties do not represent religious communities; they
are just using religious symbols to woo voters," Syafii said.

"They can promise to fight for the adoption of sharia or wear
long robes to attract voters, and these all make me sick because
they just do it for the sake of their (political) goals."

The three religious leaders were speaking in a seminar held by
the Election Education Network for the People (JPPR) here on
Thursday.

JPPR groups youth organizations affiliated with Muhammadiyah,
including Muhammadyah Youth Organization, the Association of
Muhammadiyah Students and Muhammadiyah women's youth wing
Nasiatul Aisyiyah.

The group is also cooperating with youth organizations
affiliated to the country's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul
Ulama (NU) and non-Muslim groups in conducting voter education
programs.

Nathan said Christians would exercising their political rights
as citizens, not members of churches.

"Parties that adopt certain religious symbols have no right to
claim they represent the public, because they may fail to live up
to their promises," Nathan said.

Muhammadiyah has always been linked to the National Mandate
Party (PAN), while several parties, including the National
Awakening Party (PKB) and the United Development Party (PPP),
have claimed to represent NU and the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS)
has been associated with Christianity.

Muhammadiyah sprang a surprise recently when it announced its
support for PAN chairman Amien Rais' presidential bid. Amien is
Syafii's predecessor.

But Syafii retracted the Muslim group's decision on Wednesday,
saying Muhammadiyah had never nominated an individual
presidential candidate.

Ahead of the April 5 election, religious leaders are being
wooed by political parties.

Chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
(PDI-P) Megawati Soekarnoputri visited NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi
at his Islamic boarding school in Malang, East Java earlier this
month.

Golkar Party chairman Akbar Tandjung and Amien have also
toured Java to meet Muslim clerics, so will the Concern for the
Nation Functional Party (PKPB) leader Siti "Tutut" Hardijanti
Rukmana, Soeharto's eldest daughter.

Solahuddin said NU had fought hard to distance itself from
politics since it reinstated its status as a non-political
organization in 1984.

"NU is not a political body. It cannot name certain
individuals as its presidential candidates. NU executives who
have political ambitions must resign and struggle for their goals
through political parties," he said.

Window:

"People have to learn that even God is being hijacked by
Indonesian politicians," Muhammadiyah Chairman Ahmad Syafii
Maarif.