The Moslem Conference

The Moslem Conference

Despite the organizing committee's earlier promise that the
currently ongoing Indonesian Moslem Congress was intended purely
as a means of strengthening bonds, we cannot avoid smelling
political motives after hearing yesterday's opening speech by the
chairman of the Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI), K.H. Ali
Yafie, and upon learning of the planned grand closing ceremony at
the Istora Sports Hall, Senayan.

If it is true that this congress is politically motivated to
create the impression that it articulates the wish of Indonesia's
Moslems that the People's Consultative Assembly's special session
proceed smoothly, then we feel pity for those Moslem leaders who
are present at the meeting and thus unwittingly allow themselves
to be made a tool for lending legitimacy to the assembly's
special session. If this is true, the congress' publicized
intention to forge a strong Moslem brotherhood bond will be
meaningless. On the contrary, it might foster greater feelings of
mistrust among Indonesia's Moslems.

As a majority, Indonesia's Moslems should not only be
demanding more rights, they should demonstrate that they accept
greater responsibility for the nation's future. Indonesia's
Moslems are at present facing a number of tests. Not only are
they suffering from hardships and tragedies, they are also
engulfed in euphoria over the current reform drive. Islamic
parties have emerged to offer glorious dreams. Moslem leaders are
being tempted with attractive positions of power.

We hope that in this context the Indonesian Council of Ulemas
will not let itself be trapped into the old cheap tradition of
issuing pledges of support or other such meaningless slogans.

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta