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Indonesian Muslim Groups Urge Halt to Political Quarrels
KUALA LUMPUR, June 26 (News Agencies) - Indonesia's two largest Muslim organizations, the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and the Muhammadiyah, called Tuesday on the country's political elite to bury their differences or face widespread clashes among Indonesians.
The organizations warned politicians that their "irresponsible"' actions might force supporters to clash at the grassroots level. On Monday, a Muhammadiyah spokesman said he saw no reason why the two organizations would clash head-on over political matters.
He said the Muhammadiyah and the NU were both Islamic organizations with the same aim and urged the political class to abide to their roles as leaders of the nation.
NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi said a recent series of violent incidents in East Java and Jakarta, combined with conflicts between supporters of the two Muslim organizations, had much to do with the conflict between their respective leaders within political elite circles.
The NU has been in the limelight since the beginning of this year with the unleashing of its bansers, or suicide gangs, by President Abdurrahman Wahid.
Observers believe Wahid tried to intimidate his opponents, especially Amien Rais of the National Mandate Party (PAN), and Akbar Tandjung of the Golkar Party, using the threat of the gangs. Both leaders are Wahid opponents and are currently pushing for his removal from office through a vote in parliament on August 1st.
During a hearing between the two groups, Muzadi said it was the political class that had triggered the violence and conflict amongst Muslims in Indonesia.
He was of the opinion that the special session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) in August was an appropriate time for members of the political elite to reconcile their differences and reach a compromise in a bid to halt clashes between their supporters nationwide.
He warned that the conflict would likely escalate if politicians failed to compromise. Members of the Parliament (MPR) and the Senate (DPR), however, both said there was little chance for a compromise with Wahid.
They, in turn, advised the NU and the Muhammadiyah not to get involved in MPR proceedings and allow the democratic process to take its course.
Some observers in Jakarta dismissed the fact that the conflict between the MPR/DPR and Wahid had fuelled schisms among Muslims in the country. They said a majority of the population was waiting for Wahid's ouster and that there would not be any problem between the two major organizations once the president is forced to leave office.
They added that Muzadi's statement could be part of numerous attempts by Wahid to involve the NU in the political conflict with the MPR and DPR. They said they were convinced that Wahid still believed the NU could influence legislators not to vote for a presidential impeachment.
Muzadi had argued that the conflict forced members of the ulama (religious scholars) to play the role as firefighters, seeking to douse political flames, although they are seeking no political advantage from this, he said.
Throughout the history of Islam, Muzadi said, conflicts among Muslims have been sparked by worldly matters such as politics, and not by religious matters as such.
Wahid is bound for impeachment by Parliament on August 1st, after failing to respond properly to the two early warnings given to him by the Senate.
He is currently lobbying through parliament for a compromise, urging legislators not to remove him from the presidential office. Legislators feel he is guilty on two counts of corruption involving several million dollars.
He is the fourth Indonesian president, and has been in power since 1999 after defeating current Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri in a vote through Parliament.
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