Masses follow leaders: Choirul<\/p>\n
SURABAYA (JP): Choirul Anam, who failed in 1994 to regain the
\nposition of East Java chapter of GP Anshor (the youth wing of
\nNahdlatul Ulama) which he had held for two terms, is among
\nAbdurrahman Wahid's trusted youth figures.<\/p>\n
\"Perhaps because I was too close to Gus Dur (Abdurrahman) I
\ndidn't win,\" he said lightly.<\/p>\n
And yet Choirul is influential among, or maybe even controls,
\nthe Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) security volunteers known as Banser. He
\nled thousands of youths who carried assortments of weapons, to
\nflock the office of a newspaper for carrying reports which,
\nChoirul believes, slandered Abdurrahman. The newspaper ran an
\napology for seven consecutive days on its front page.<\/p>\n
Choirul is now chairman of the East Java provincial chapter of
\nthe National Awakening Party (PKB). He recently spoke with The
\nJakarta Post on conflicts between PKB supporters and those of the
\nUnited Development Party (PPP).<\/p>\n
Question: About the conflicts in East Java...<\/p>\n
Answer: They did not happen just like that. Those clashes were
\nprovoked by some mubaligh (Muslim preachers)... on the PPP side.
\nAs well as outsiders that I don't know of.<\/p>\n
I have listened to recordings of some of those preachers'
\nspeeches during their campaigning rallies. They made a lot of
\ninstigating remarks. How do you think the PKB members would react
\nif they were told that Gus Dur and Matori (Abdul Djalil, the
\nchairman of PKB) were goats?<\/p>\n
Q: Don't PKB leaders do the same thing?<\/p>\n
A: No they don't. If they did, then it's only a payback for the
\nPPP. But formally, we forbid such a stance. Especially since I
\nbecame the coordinator for the party's campaigning here. We have
\ncommitments.<\/p>\n
Q: Of what?<\/p>\n
A: We are committed against money politics. To keep the campaign
\nsafe and kind, not to commit any offenses, not to humiliate
\nothers... Elections have to proceed in an objective and fair
\nmanner.<\/p>\n
We understand it would be impossible for us to prevent
\nsupporters from making street convoys, so we tell our supporters
\nto do it in a peaceful way. Should there be any conflicts, we
\nfind solutions through deliberations or through legal actions.<\/p>\n
This is important because we want to educate Indonesians about
\nvoting with full awareness (of the impact of their choice). No
\nmoney politics, no pressure, no intimidation.<\/p>\n
Q: How are you going to prevent clashes in Jepara from taking
\nplace here?<\/p>\n
A: We try to help people understand that we, the party leaders,
\nwant to have peaceful campaigns and elections. The success
\ndepends on party leaders.<\/p>\n
If there are still conflicts out there on the field, it's
\nbecause the party leaders have not done their homework. Or they
\nare being ignored by their followers.<\/p>\n
Q: There were cases when people in PDI Perjuangan uniforms
\nattacked supporters of other parties. What do you think about
\nthat?<\/p>\n
A: It is not easy to control masses of people, especially people
\nwho were once made to suffer (like supporters of PDI Perjuangan).
\nBut we too, suffered, but if I said \"no violence\", they (the PKB
\nsupporters) would obey me.<\/p>\n
Q: Once PKB was dubbed Partai Kerusuhan Bangsa (Party of Unrest)
\nbecause there was almost always violence involved in your
\nactivities in the past...<\/p>\n
A: Yes, I admit to that. It was very hard in the beginning. But
\nyou see now, our supporters are much better. When 5,000 Banser
\nmembers asked for my permission to \"visit\" that newspaper, I said
\nno.<\/p>\n
So they reduced their number until only 500 were left. I could
\nnot say no any longer, because it would have meant killing their
\naspiration. They were enraged by the news about Gus Dur. So I
\nsaid yes, but no violence. They did not do any harm then. They
\njust talked and asked the newspaper to apologize, which it did.<\/p>\n
Very much depends on leaders.<\/p>\n
Q: What is your strategy to build a better image of PKB?<\/p>\n
A: We want people to know that we are not a bunch of intimidating
\npeople. Unfortunately, we don't have our own media (to do the
\npublic relation campaign). We can't expect the common media to
\nvoice our public relation work, can we?<\/p>\n
Q: Some Muslims believe the PKB fights to secularize the country
\nfor political gains.<\/p>\n
A: How?<\/p>\n
Q: By having close ties with non-Islamic organizations, including
\nthe PDI Perjuangan?..<\/p>\n
A: Those who said that are new Islamic parties which are still
\nconcerned about the artificial issues of Islamic values. Theirs
\nis a formality approach and they treat Islamic teaching as a mere
\nsymbol.<\/p>\n
I am sorry, but PKB has advanced beyond that. We have gotten
\nto the substance rather than appearance (of being Islamic). We go
\nnot for symbols, or labels, but for attitudes.<\/p>\n
Our approach is cultural. We are inclusive. We tolerate
\npluralism. That is Islam. Islam tolerates pluralism.<\/p>\n
Q: How are you going to win the votes in East Java?<\/p>\n
A: We are optimistic. In 1955 (then) NU party won the elections.
\nIn 1971, even with the strong existence of Golkar, we still won
\n35 percent of the votes... The roots are still there. All these
\nyears we have been maintaining those roots. Automatically, NU
\nmembers will vote for PKB. If not, there must be a mistake in
\nidentifying the parties.<\/p>\n
Q: What do you think of coalition among parties?<\/p>\n
A: There must be a coalition because we must fight the single
\nmajority (Golkar). We are interested in establishing alliances
\nwith parties who fight for the national unity and for the people.
\n(26)<\/p>",
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