30 NU clerics support Gus Dur as president<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Lombok\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
As many as 30 influential Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) clerics affirmed
\non Wednesday their support for Abdurrahman \"Gus Dur\" Wahid's
\npresidential bid and entrusted him to hand pick an alternative
\nshould his health become a major stumbling block.<\/p>\n
However, NU Chairman Hasyim Muzadi, who did not attend the
\nmeeting on Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara, criticized the move by
\nthe clerics, saying they did not have the authority to endorse
\nanyone on behalf of the country's largest Muslim organization and
\nsuch a move could spark polarization among the other NU ulemas.<\/p>\n
The clerics met at the Komarul Huda Islamic boarding school in
\nBagu area in Central Lombok, following a previous gathering in
\nBuntet subdistrict in the West Java town of Cirebon on March 9,
\nwhich also resulted in their nomination of Gus Dur for the
\npresidential election on July 5.<\/p>\n
Among the noted clerics were Abdullah Faqih of Langitan in the
\nEast Java town of Tuban, Abdullah Abas of Buntet and Fachruddin
\nMasturo of Sukabumi in West Java. The clerics came from across
\nthe country. They also endorsed Gus Dur's presidential bid in the
\n1999 election which he won.<\/p>\n
The National Awakening Party (PKB), the party NU helped found
\nin 1998, has also nominated Gus Dur as its presidential
\ncandidate.<\/p>\n
Gus Dur was present in the meeting in Lombok, and expressed
\nhis readiness to run for the president.<\/p>\n
Kyai Ibnu Ubaidillah from Arjawinangun boarding school told
\nreporters that the clerics' recommendation would be handed over
\nto the national congress of the National Awakening Party (PKB) in
\nJakarta on April 25.<\/p>\n
\"Gus Dur is the only presidential candidate we support,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
After hearing about the health requirements set by the General
\nElections Commission (KPU), Ibnu said the clerics also authorized
\nGus Dur to appoint his replacement if he could not run.<\/p>\n
\"If KPU prevents Gus Dur from running, we'll let him choose
\nanyone he trusts to take his place,\" Ibnu said.<\/p>\n
Physical disabilities could very well prevent presidential
\ncandidates from running, because according to KPU regulation No.
\n26\/2004, they must get a health checkup, including an eye exam.
\nGus Dur is said to be nearly blind, after a series of strokes.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, PKB Chairman Alwi Shihab filed a judicial review
\nwith the Supreme Court in protest of the KPU regulation requiring
\nmedical checkups for presidential and vice presidential
\ncandidates.<\/p>\n
\"This regulation is against the basic rights of the disabled.
\nIf the court fails to reject it, we will challenge it at the
\ninternational rights commission,\" Alwi said.<\/p>\n
Alwi also said PKB might establish a coalition with other
\npolitical parties, including the Golkar Party, for the
\npresidential race.<\/p>\n
\"We will decide during our national working meeting next
\nweek,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Gus Dur has met several times with Gen. (ret) Wiranto, who won
\nGolkar's nomination for the presidency early on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
NU executive board also held a plenary meeting at its
\nheadquarters in Central Jakarta, attended by all influential
\nmembers from its main regulatory body, the syuriah, and its
\nexecutive body, the tanfidziah.<\/p>\n
\"It is not in the organization's capacity to propose
\ncandidates, but we will fully respect the ongoing political
\nprocess. If certain parties pick NU members as their candidates,
\nwe respect it as their own basic right,\" NU Chairman Hasyim
\nMuzadi announced during a press conference.<\/p>\n
\"Any presidential or vice presidential hopeful who comes from
\nthe NU, however, should be considered as individuals and they
\ncannot claim to represent NU or exploit NU symbols because this
\norganization does not belong to certain individuals.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/30-nu-clerics-support-gus-dur-as-president-1447893297",
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