S. Sulawesi Muslims seek referendum

S. Sulawesi Muslims seek referendum

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: The South Sulawesi Muslims' Second
Congress held here ended on Monday with a recommendation to
implement Syariah (Islamic Law) in the province of South Sulawesi
by either special autonomy or independence.

The press release distributed on Tuesday also said that the
Congress recommended two options for the province; special
autonomy -- to include Syariah -- or a referendum for separation
from Indonesia leading to an independent state.

Azwar Hasan, the secretary general of the Committee for the
Preparation of the Implementation of the Syariah, said in the
press release that the Congress had resulted in a two-fold
recommendation.

"The first is an internal recommendation, which has seven
points. One of the points states that South Sulawesi Muslims
should be consistent with their struggle for the implementation
of the Islamic Law, by demanding special autonomy for the
province -- under the auspices of the unitary state of the
Republic of Indonesia.

"The second is an external recommendation which has 11 points.
One of the points states that if the (people's) aspiration for
the implementation of syariah is not accommodated, the Congress
will take concrete steps to seek an independence referendum, the
details of which will be explained later," said Azwar.

The Congress was rocked by an explosion in the dining hall on
Sunday evening, wounding three people. Police have yet to reveal
if they have any leads in the investigation. --JP