Govt not to interfere in NU congress<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government promised the 34 million members
\nof the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) yesterday that it would not interfere
\nin the organization's congress next month.<\/p>\n
"We will give them (NU members) freedom to organize their
\ncongress and elect their new chairman," Coordinating Minister for
\nPolitical Affairs and Security Soesilo Soedarman told journalists
\nafter a meeting with ministers and top officials under his
\ncoordination.<\/p>\n
NU, the largest socio-educational Moslem organization in the
\ncountry, will hold its 29th congress from Dec. 1 to Dec. 5 in
\nTasikmalaya, West Java.<\/p>\n
The election of a new chairman has stolen the spotlight from
\nthe debate concerning whether NU would play formal politics again
\nand whether the government would meddle in the formation of the
\nnew executive board.<\/p>\n
Its incumbent chairman Abdurrahman Wahid, better known as Gus
\nDur, appears to have the support needed to retain his post for
\nanother four year, even though his ideas are often considered
\n"too progressive" by the generally conservative NU members.<\/p>\n
Saying that the government would support any chairman elected
\nby the congress, Soesilo emphasized that the government would let
\nNU decide anything freely in the congress.<\/p>\n
Soesilo denied allegations that Gus Dur had lost the
\ngovernment's favor because of his outspokenness.<\/p>\n
"Gus Dur himself has said it was not true that the government
\ndid not like him" he said, referring to Gus Dur's statement in
\nForum Keadilan magazine.<\/p>\n
Commenting on Gus Dur's recent visit to Israel, Soesilo said
\nthat Gus Dur certainly must have thought the visit over
\nthoroughly before he left, he said.<\/p>\n
Gus Dur's visit to Israel had sparked protests from some NU
\nmembers, who objected not only the tour but also his proposal
\nthat Indonesia open diplomatic ties with the Jewish state.<\/p>\n
Support<\/p>\n
He has the support of numerous NU chapters in Central and East
\nJava, which represent the organization's strongest bases.<\/p>\n
He expected that NU, as an old organization, would be "mature"
\nenough to be able to handle any problem that might emerge during
\nthe congress.<\/p>\n
Soesilo was the latest senior government official who promised
\nnon-interference in the congress that will bring together scores
\nof NU leaders from across the country.<\/p>\n
Earlier, chief of the socio-political affairs department of
\nthe Armed Forces Lt. Gen. R. Hartono and Spokesman for the Armed
\nForces Brig. Gen. Syarwan Hamid had voiced the same assurance.<\/p>\n
Defense and Security Minister Gen. (ret) Edi Sudrajat has said
\nthat he wants to see NU strong and independent. (sim)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-not-to-interfere-in-nu-congress-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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