Gus Dur defends close relations with Tutut<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Chairman of the 30-million strong Nahdlatul
\nUlama (NU) Moslem Organization, Abdurrahman Wahid has defended
\nhis close relations with Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, deputy chief of
\nthe Golkar party.<\/p>\n
Gus Dur, as Abdurrahman is better known, said yesterday that
\nhe meant to help Hardiyanti develop her political skills.<\/p>\n
"We need to give the opportunity for the country's rising
\nstars to appear before the NU public," Gus Dur told journalists
\nat his office.<\/p>\n
Gus Dur and Tutut, as President Soeharto's eldest daughter is
\nbetter known, were seen together in public twice last week.<\/p>\n
He met her in Sidoarjo, about 25 kilometers south of Surabaya,
\nWednesday. Some 10,000 NU members attended the informal meeting.
\nOn Sunday, they appeared before an NU gathering in Semarang.<\/p>\n
The event made front-page headlines in local newspapers and
\nhas raised speculations that Gus Dur, known for his critical
\nstand toward the government, is moving closer to Golkar.<\/p>\n
NU, Indonesia's largest socioeducational organization and once
\na powerful political party, has shunned politics but given its
\nmembers the freedom to affiliate with any party.<\/p>\n
Last year, Gus Dur was often seen in public with Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri who lost her chairmanship of the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party (PDI) in a government-backed congress.<\/p>\n
"We want to give the same treatment to Tutut, Megawati,
\nSiswono Yudohusodo, Sarwono Kusumaatmaja and Akbar Tanjung," he
\nsaid, referring to several prominent leaders and government
\nofficials.<\/p>\n
Siswono is the minister of transmigration, Sarwono the state
\nminister of environment, while Akbar is the state minister of
\npublic housing.<\/p>\n
Gus Dur acknowledged that some NU activists, especially the
\nyouth, are not happy with his latest association with Tutut and
\nwant him to stay politically neutral.<\/p>\n
Despite the opposition, Gus Dur said he planned more public
\nappearances with her in Madiun, East Java, on April 12 and in
\nKebumen, Central Java, on April 20.<\/p>\n
Several members of NU youth groups in Jombang and Bangkalan in
\nEast Java boycotted Wednesday's gathering, while chiefs of the
\nNU's Lamongan and Bangkalan chapters ordered their members not to
\nattend the gathering.<\/p>\n
"For the NU, differences of opinion are something usual. You
\neven have to be prepared to get a slap in the face for that," he
\nsaid. (imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gus-dur-defends-close-relations-with-tutut-1447893297",
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