Establishment of `New NU' draws severe criticism<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The establishment of the Nahdlatul Ummah forum,
\ndubbed by the press as the "New NU", by senior members of the
\nUnited Development Party (PPP), has been torn to pieces by
\ncritics from within the party and the Nahdlatul Ulama, the
\noriginal NU.<\/p>\n
The choice of name was deplorable, the idea behind it is
\ncontroversial and the timing, coming just ahead of a party
\ncongress, is wrong, according to critics of the New NU.<\/p>\n
The new forum would simply add a new problem to the party now
\nbeing torn by factional bickering, said Robbani Thoha, secretary
\nof the PPP chapter in Central Java.<\/p>\n
The forum, originally intended to bridge the divisions between
\nthe party's four factions, could instead become the fifth faction
\nto further complicate the problem, Robbani was quoted by the
\nAntara news agency as saying.<\/p>\n
The choice of name caused particular consternation to NU, the
\nlargest of the four factions in PPP, which is embroiled in a
\nbattle for the party's leadership with the other factions.<\/p>\n
"It is deplorable to see the attempt by some PPP politicians
\nto create a new faction within the party using a name which is
\nintended to resemble Nahdlatul Ulama, popularly known as NU,"
\nChalid Mawardi, a member of the NU Executive Board, said in a
\nstatement quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
Chalid said the founders of the new forum are known for their
\nanti-NU stance and their latest move was simply another deception
\nto discredit his organization which is also busy in preparing for
\nits own congress in November.<\/p>\n
He said the founders should stop the plan to use the name
\nNahdlatul Ummah at once because the abbreviation NU is already
\nrecognized by the law as belonging to Nahdlatul Ulama.<\/p>\n
The "New NU" was formally endorsed in Jakarta on Saturday by
\nwringing endorsements from a number of senior PPP politicians who
\nbelong to neither of the four factions, including A.M. Saefuddin,
\nAli Hardi Kiaidemak, Hadimulyo and Saleh Khalid.<\/p>\n
The founders said the group's chief objective is to court
\nfirst time voters in the next general election in 1997, something
\nwhich they said neither the party nor the four factions had ever
\nhandled seriously in previous elections.<\/p>\n
Many current PPP leaders rose in ranks through their
\nactivities in the factions. Only a few of them started their
\npolitical career in the PPP, the second largest political party
\nin Indonesia, after the military-backed Golkar and just ahead of
\nthe Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).<\/p>\n
"Instead of creating a new faction, they should come up with
\nprograms on how to unite the party. That would be a better way,"
\nsaid Djuhad Mahja, another functionary of the PPP Central Java.<\/p>\n
Ircham A.R. said he had no objection to the forum but
\nsuggested that it uses another "less offensive" name.<\/p>\n
Another reason<\/p>\n
Analysts said there was another reason why the non-faction PPP
\npoliticians have decided to set up the new forum -- the fear that
\nthey will be neglected when the congress parcel out the party's
\ntop positions traditionally based on quotas.<\/p>\n
The party is a fusion of four Islamic parties in 1973: NU,
\nMuslimin Indonesia (MI), Sarekat Islam (SI) and Perti.<\/p>\n
The PPP is scheduled to open its congress on Aug. 28 in
\nJakarta with the top agenda being to elect the new chairman and
\nappoint the new central executive board.<\/p>\n
The establishment of the New NU has added a new twist to the
\ncontroversy as the various factions are drawing up their strategy
\nfor the congress.<\/p>\n
Ismail Hasan Metareum, the incumbent chairman who hails from
\nMI, on Monday announced his intention to run for the election,
\ncounting heavily on the support of the leaders of the party's
\nprovincial boards.<\/p>\n
His nearest challenger is his own secretary general, Matori
\nAbdul Djalil who is supported by NU.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a senior Armed Forces (ABRI) officer said the
\nmilitary will stay out from the PPP leadership contest, the
\nAntara news agency reported.<\/p>\n
"We will let PPP determine its own future, and whoever is
\nelected as chairman will not be a problem for us, because that is
\nthe party's internal affair," Maj. Gen. Hari Sabarno, Assistant
\nto the ABRI Chief on Socio-Political Affairs, was quoted by the
\nAntara news agency as saying yesterday.<\/p>\n
Earlier, ABRI chief spokesman Brig. Gen. Syarwan Hamid had
\nsaid that ABRI views Ismail Hasan as a person who is capable of
\nworking with the military and the government.<\/p>\n
His remarks raised speculation that the military is casting
\nits support to Ismail Hasan's reelection. (emb)<\/p>",
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