Hasyim told not to seek reelection in NU congress<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Hasyim Muzadi should refrain from
\nseeking reelection otherwise it would exacerbate internal
\nconflict within the country's largest Muslim organization, a
\nrenowned figure said.<\/p>\n
Yusuf Hasyim, the son of NU founder Hasyim Asy'ari, suggested
\non Wednesday that the incumbent NU chairman join the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) instead.<\/p>\n
PDI-P chose Hasyim as the running mate for its leader Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri in the presidential election in July. They
\nqualified for the runoff in September, only to lose to the
\npairing of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Jusuf Kalla.<\/p>\n
\"I think the conflict will be reoccurring and Pak Hasyim will
\nbe the one to blame for the rift if he insists on running for
\nanother term,\" Yusuf told Antara.<\/p>\n
NU will hold its 31st congress in Surakarta from Nov. 28 to
\nDec. 2 to elect its chairman for the 2004-2009 period. President
\nSusilo confirmed on Wednesday when he received Hasyim that he
\nwould open the annual event.<\/p>\n
Yusuf said Hasyim stood a good chance of retaining his post as
\n80 percent of NU branch offices would support his reelection bid,
\nbut at the expense of NU unity.<\/p>\n
Hasyim's bid would meet strong opposition from influential
\nclerics who met in Langitan, Tuban, last week and former
\npresident Abdurrahman \"Gus Dur\" Wahid, who was Hasyim's
\npredecessor, according to Yusuf.<\/p>\n
\"Ulemas like Kyai Abdullah Faqih from Tuban, Kyai Zainal
\nAbidin (Yogyakarta), Kyai Abdurrahman Chudlori (Magelang) and
\nothers are already sorting a replacement for Hasyim, although
\nit's not final yet,\" said Yusuf.<\/p>\n
Gus Dur has expressed his preference of Cecep Syarifuddin,
\ncurrently a deputy NU chairman for the top post.<\/p>\n
Yusuf said that senior ulemas are worried about NU's future if
\npolitics are highly involved in the organization.<\/p>\n
\"They plan to nominate Mustofa Bisri to lead NU. If he
\nrefuses, they will turn back to offsprings of Hasyim Asy'ari,
\nAbdurrahman Wahid, Yusuf Hasyim and Salahuddin Wahid,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Yusuf, also Gus Dur's uncle, suggested that Hasyim join the
\nPDI-P during its party congress next year.<\/p>\n
\"PDI-P will definitely consider Hasyim successful in uniting
\nthe nationalists and the nahdliyyin (NU followers),\" Yusuf said.<\/p>\n
Yusuf said Hasyim should emulate Idham Chalid who quit the
\nrace in the NU's 27th congress in Situbondo in 1974 in order to
\navoid continuing internal conflict.<\/p>\n
\"The situation now is quite similar to what we faced at that
\ntime, which was marred by practical politics and dissatisfaction
\namong most ulemas with Idham,\" said Yusuf.<\/p>\n
Hasyim said after his meeting with Susilo at the presidential
\noffice that he had not thought about running for reelection.<\/p>\n
\"I have not decided whether to contest the election as it
\ngenerally takes place just before the congress ends. I would like
\nto see a group of people nominate me so I can respond to it,\"
\nHasyim said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/hasyim-told-not-to-seek-reelection-in-nu-congress-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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