Scholars scold ulemas for dabbling in politics

Scholars scold ulemas for dabbling in politics

SURABAYA (JP): Leading Moslem scholars have criticized a group
of fellow ulemas who recently named 10 people they deemed as vice
presidential material, calling it a dangerous political maneuver.

Badri Masduki, the head of Badrud Duja Pesantren (Islamic
boarding school) in Kraksaan, Probolinggo, and Saleh Al Jufri,
the director of the Institute for Islamic Information and
Laboratory, expressed their displeasure over the move.

"(They have done something) against their integrity as
ulemas," said Badri.

Led by Hasib Wahab, the head of Bahrul Ulum Pesantren in
Jombang, a group of 99 ulemas said they planned to submit a list
of 10 names for the vice presidential election to the People's
Consultative Assembly.

In hierarchical order, the list was as follows: incumbent Try
Sutrisno; Information Minister R. Hartono; State Minister of
Research and Technology B.J. Habibie; Golkar leader Siti
Hardijanti Rukmana; House Speaker Harmoko; Coordinating Minister
of Political Affairs and Security Soesilo Soedarman; Army Chief
of Staff Gen. Wiranto; Defense Minister Edi Sudradjat; and East
Java Governor Basofi Soedirman.

Hasib said the group also planned to visit President Soeharto,
to convey their support for his renomination, before the People's
Consultative Assembly's meeting next March.

Badri was actually a member of FOKUS, but disagreed with the
move. "We never agreed to name any candidates. FOKUS did not
have the competence to make statements about vice presidential
candidates," he said.

He said that in the FOKUS meeting at Tunjungan Hotel late
November, there had not been any agenda to discuss the question
of the next vice presidency. "Then, all of a sudden, there were
many reports about the list," he said.

Saleh Al Jufri said he was also invited to the meeting but
declined because he suspected there was political maneuvering
brewing.

In 1990, Saleh collected the signatures of 200 local ulemas to
support the nomination of Try Sutrisno.

Saleh said the announcement of the 10 names was initiated by
Hasib who wanted to see Try Sutrisno reelected.

"I know nothing of this," Saleh said, adding that he would not
mobilize support for anyone again.

Sources told The Jakarta Post that Badri's protest was more
because he wanted greater support to be given to Hartono rather
than Try Sutrisno.

Governor Basofi cold-shouldered the motion. "If they want to
name people, they can do so. Just leave me out of it," he said.

FOKUS is an organization of leaders of boarding schools which
belongs to Indonesia's largest Moslem organization the Nahdlatul
Ulama. Their original mission was to curb the alleged spread of
the Shiite sect, but in practice they were also active in
political affairs.

In August last year, for instance, they issued a statement
denouncing the Democratic People's Party (PRD) -- then charged
with masterminding the July 27, 1996, riot, and other "neo-
communist" movements. (nur)