Government asked to clarify stance on NU<\/p>\n
By Haryoso<\/p>\n
SEMARANG (JP): A political observer and an ulema are calling
\non the government to clarify its stance on the chairmanship
\nconflict in Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia's largest Moslem
\norganization.<\/p>\n
Kahar Badjuri of Diponegoro University and Noer Iskandar
\nAlbarsany, member at the Syuriah (law-making body) at NU, agreed
\nthat the public is waiting to see whether the government will
\ntake punitive action against dissenters who established a rival
\nexecutive board. Only by such action can the government convince
\nthe public of its sincerity when it declared that it recognized
\nAbdurrahman Wahid as the rightful chairman, Kahar said.<\/p>\n
\"The public, especially members of NU, are waiting for when
\nthe government will make good of its promise to punish Abu Hasan
\nwho established the rival board when the Ministry of Home Affairs
\nhas declared its recognition of Abdurrahman's board,\" Kahar told
\nThe Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Noer Iskandar said the NU members had been relieved when
\nMinister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. recently said the
\nestablishment of the rival board was a violation of rules.<\/p>\n
\"Now we're hoping that Minister Yogie really takes action
\nagainst the dissenters,\" Noer Iskandar said. \"Otherwise,
\nconflicts will only grow.\"<\/p>\n
He reminded the government that rifts in the 30-million strong
\norganization would be harmful to the whole society. He also
\ncalled on other leaders of NU to take punitive action against the
\ndissenting members. \"They should be dismissed,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The same call was made by Niam Sukri, chairman of NU youth
\nwing, GP Ansor, in Central Java. \"The youths of NU are waiting
\nfor the government to keep its promise,\" he said. \"Otherwise, the
\ngovernment runs the risk of confusing NU members.\"<\/p>\n
Abu Hasan, who lost the chairmanship election to incumbent
\nAbdurrahman Wahid at the organization's congress in Dec. 1994,
\nheld an extraordinary congress last month and established a rival
\nboard.<\/p>\n
He managed to gather some 500 participants claiming to
\nrepresent 23 regional branches and 225 units at regency level,
\nand get himself elected chairman of the Tanfidziyah (executive
\nboard) of NU.<\/p>\n
Outspoken ulema K.H. Hamid Baidlawi was elected chairman of
\nthe Syuriah, a position which, in Abdurrahman's board, is held by
\nrespected ulema K.H. Ilyas Ruchyat.<\/p>\n
Abu Hasan, an affluent businessman, pointed out that his was
\nnot a rival board; it was, instead, the legitimate board because
\nAbdurrahman's board was produced in a rigged election.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, reports circulated yesterday that some local
\nchapters of NU have started to retaliate against members
\nparticipating in the illegal congress. Baidlawi, for instance,
\nhas been dismissed from his post at the unit leadership of Lasem
\ndistrict, Central Java.<\/p>\n
The central executive board set the end of the fasting month
\nof Ramadhan last week as the deadline for the dissenters to
\nreturn to the fold. Abu Hasan has so far ignored it, proceeding
\nwith installing members to his board.<\/p>\n
Chairman Abdurrahman, better known as Gus Dur, told RCTI
\nprivate television station yesterday that the deadline was
\nflexible. Besides, he said, the board has yet to call a meeting
\nto discuss what kind of punishment will be meted out.<\/p>",
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