Siswono would decline offer to chair PCPP
Siswono would decline offer to chair PCPP
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Transmigration Siswono Yudohusodo
says he would decline to chair the newly-established Association
of Intellectuals for Pancasila Development (PCPP) if the job were
offered to him.
"I don't think I'm intellectual enough to head an intellectual
organization. There are others who are more intellectual,"
Siswono told reporters yesterday, while adding that he views the
organization positively.
The minister confirmed that he had met with some of the PCPP's
founders to discuss the organization's concerns and objectives.
He added, however, that there had not been any formal offer to
him to head the organization.
The PCPP founders earlier mentioned Siswono among the leading
figures they planned to ask to become their chairman to give the
new organization a national stature. Another possible candidate
who has been mentioned is Edi Sudradjat, the minister of defense
and security.
The organization has been without a chairman since it was
established in July by a group of intellectuals from the Jenderal
Sudirman University in Purwokerto, Central Java. It has enlisted
members and supporters in other cities and plans are currently
underway for the group to hold its first congress in the Central
Javanese capital Semarang next month.
Two respected statesmen, Gen. (ret.) Surono and Gen. (ret.)
Suhardiman, the chairman of the influential SOKSI mass
organization, have reportedly agreed to sit on the PCPP's board
of patrons.
The PCPP's inception is widely seen as a challenge to existing
intellectuals' organizations, whose membership is based on
religion.
The most prominent of these established groups is the
Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI), which is
headed by State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie.
The other three major intellectuals' groups are the Christian
PIKI, the Buddhist KCBI and the Catholic ISKI.
Concern
The growing influence of the ICMI in Indonesian politics has
led to expressions of concern that the nation is heading toward
the sectarianism of the past.
Siswono said the PCPP offers intellectuals an alternative
forum that is not based on religious faith. "I think it's
legitimate. It's good," he said.
The minister said he might consider joining the organization
once it has formed its executive board and settled upon its
programs and statutes.
"Right now, I'm not a member of any (intellectual)
organization," said Siswono, who is an engineer by training.
An intellectuals' organization does not have to be led by a
cabinet minister, he said, adding that the absence of such a
leader does not mean that an organization is less significant or
respectable. He added that, in his opinion, any one of the
founding members of the organization would be capable of leading
the group.
The minister said he was impressed with the concerns expressed
by the PCPP's founders as the background to the group's
establishment. "I see them as clear-thinking people who are
genuinely concerned about the future of this nation.
"We're entering an era of globalization and liberalization
that is prompting us to ask whether or not we are heading for a
capitalist system.
"Are we not departing from Article 33 of the Constitution?" he
asked, referring the constitution's requirement that the state
control natural resources which affect the livelihood of the mass
of the people.
Siswono was speaking after meeting with President Soeharto at
the latter's Jl. Cendana residence to report about a plan to
appoint a new director general in his ministry to oversee the
mobilization and placement of settlers.
Asked whether he had also discussed the PCPP with the
President, Siswono replied: "With all due respect, even if I had,
I reserve the right not to disclose it to you." (emb)