Heat is on in NU meet run-up<\/p>\n
Indra Harsaputra and Suherdjoko, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya\/Semarang<\/p>\n
Supporters of Nadhlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Hasyim Muzadi claimed
\non Tuesday that as many as 30 regional branches supported the
\nreelection of the failed vice presidential candidate.<\/p>\n
Ali Maschan Moesa, head of East Java NU office, said
\nHasyim's backers held three meetings immediately after the Sept.
\n20 presidential election.<\/p>\n
\"This is the first time NU provincial branches across the
\ncountry have supported Pak Hasyim. During the national congress
\nin Lirboyo in 1999, only the East Java branch supported his
\nnomination,\" Ali Maschan said.<\/p>\n
Hasyim was former president Megawati Soekarnoputri's vice
\npresidential candidate in the presidential election, which was
\nwon by Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Jusuf Kalla.<\/p>\n
However, Ali acknowledged that the support of the regional
\nbranches did not reflect support from the some 400 NU branches at
\nthe district level across the country.<\/p>\n
The next NU chairman will be elected by NU leaders at the
\nprovincial and district levels.<\/p>\n
NU, the country's largest Muslim organization, will hold a
\nnational congress from Nov. 28 to Dec. 2 in Boyolali, Central
\nJava. As many as 5,000 people are expected to attend the
\ncongress, which is expected to be opened by President Susilo.<\/p>\n
The chairman of the congress' steering committee, Muhammad
\nAdnan, said on Tuesday in Semarang, Central Java, that one of the
\nmain items on the agenda of the congress would be the election of
\nthe organization's chairman and the head of the NU's lawmaking
\nbody.<\/p>\n
In addition to Hasyim, former religious affairs minister
\nTolchah Hasan, NU deputy chairmen Mustofa Bisri, Salahuddin Wahid
\nand Cecep Syarifuddin have been named as possible candidates for
\nthe chairmanship.<\/p>\n
Twenty-five senior NU leaders from Java, South Kalimantan and
\nWest Nusa Tenggara have announced that they would like to see the
\nNU to be led by former president Abdurrahman Wahid, the grandson
\nof NU founder Hasyim Asy'ari.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/heat-is-on-in-nu-meet-run-up-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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