Ulemas target social ills

JAKARTA (JP): Around 350 leading ulemas from across the country will begin a meeting here today to discuss strategies to fight social ills, most notably sexual promiscuity and rampant violations of oaths of office by government officials.

President Soeharto will open the fifth national congress of the Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI) tonight at the State Palace. Meetings will commence tomorrow and last through Tuesday.

MUI chairman Hasan Basri told reporters yesterday that the ulemas will elect the council's new leadership for the 1995-2000 period.

The council yesterday concluded a two-day meeting to prepare the materials for the congress.

Accompanied by other leading members -- H.S. Prodjokoesoemo, Sudjono and Ali Yafie -- Hasan Basri said two subjects will most likely dominate the congress: the roles of ulemas in the economic development of the ummat (Moslem community), and the formulation of strategies to fight social ills.

The congress is also expected to prepare working programs and issue fatwa (religious edicts) to guide the Moslem community in facing those various problems.

To be included in the discussion are the question of Islamic ethics in business activities, the increasing incidence of land disputes, the issues of officials violating their oaths, and sexual promiscuity.

"When government officials are sworn in, they have to take this beautiful sounding oath. But the question is, how do we help them keep that oath?" Hasan Basri said.

"What also concerns us very deeply is the increasing incidence of extramarital sex ... This phenomenon has led to growing sexual deviations," he said. "It's the cause of various social ills, and diseases such as AIDS."

"The council is firm in opposing some parties' drive to familiarize the public with the use of condoms (as a way to curb the spread of the deadly Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)," he said.

"This drive is tantamount to legalizing prostitution," he said. "It's like those people are saying 'go on, do anything, as long as you wear condoms.'"

"For secular countries, such an approach may be appropriate, but not for Indonesia," he said. "Not only has Islam taught us not to commit adultery, it teaches us not to even come close to it."

The congress will also be attended by ulemas from Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore. Ali Muhammad Ali, the secretary- general of the Rabithah Alam Islamy, an international organization of Moslem leaders, will also attend.

The ulemas will address the question of the roles of MUI in society, especially in relation with growing public expectations of the 20-year-old organization.

"The public is asking more of us, and we won't let them down," Hasan Basri promised.

During the congress, the ulemas will establish a seven-person electoral team, usually headed by the Minister of Religious Affairs, to elect the council's leadership.

"This election process will proceed very well," according to Hasan Basri, who is widely seen as having a great chance to be re-elected for a third consecutive term.

Vice President Try Sutrisno will close the congress on Tuesday.

The new leadership is expected to immediately carry out the council's programs, including organizing a meeting of ulemas from member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

According to Hasan Basri, the ulemas have also agreed to cooperate with the National Committee for the 50th Anniversary of Indonesia's Independence in organizing some programs.

On August 18, a day after Independence Day, "all ulemas in 600,000 mosques throughout Indonesia will ask their congregation to perform sujud syukur (prostration in gratitude)," Hasan said.

"We need to thank Allah for this golden anniversary of our country," he said. (swe)