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