'Mbak' Tutut to work with NU<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The 30-million-strong Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) tied
\nup with Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, a Golkar deputy chief and one of
\nIndonesia's most prominent tycoons, in a development project
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
Tutut, as President Soeharto's eldest daughter is better
\nknown, agreed to finance the completion of a NU hall in Jakarta
\nwhich has been neglected for two years.<\/p>\n
The cooperation between Tutut and NU materialized thanks to
\nthe mediation of Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher.<\/p>\n
Under the agreement, Tutut pledged to help finish the
\nconstruction of the building belonging to Fatayat, an NU women's
\nsuborganization.<\/p>\n
NU chairman Abdurrahman Wahid frowned on speculation that the
\ncooperation was a sign that NU would encourage its members to
\nvote for Golkar in the May 29 election.<\/p>\n
\"This project has nothing to do with the election but if
\nsympathy grows for Mbak (elder sister) Tutut, don't blame
\nanybody,\" Gus Dur, as Abdurrahman is better known, said after the
\nsigning of the agreement.<\/p>\n
In the rare encounter at the Ministry of Religious Affairs
\nthat drew dozens of journalists, Gus Dur and Tutut shook hands
\ntwice for photographers.<\/p>\n
Gus Dur said thav Tutu's assistance was purely a grant and
\nthat NU had nothing to give her in return. \"May God bless her,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Gus Dur also invited Tutut to attend at least six NU mass
\ninformal gatherings to be held throughout Java.<\/p>\n
He said it would be more efficient for Tutut to attend the
\ngatherings than to visit NU's pesantren (Islamic boarding
\nschools) if she wanted to forge close relations with Moslem
\ngroups.<\/p>\n
\"In fact NU leadership invited Tutut to visit boarding schools
\ntwo years ago but it's strange that it is widely reported in the
\nmass media only now,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Asked by reporters after the signing ceremony whether she
\nwould attend the NU gatherings, Tutut said: \"Let's see after
\nLebaran (the Idul Fitri celebration).\"<\/p>\n
Gus Dur dismissed speculation that his latest maneuver would
\nmake leaders of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) and the
\nMoslem-based United Development Party (PPP) jealous.<\/p>\n
It is common knowledge that over the past two years Gus Dur
\nhas had close ties with Megawati Soekarnoputri, the PDI leader
\nousted last year by the government-backed Soerjadi.<\/p>\n
In interviews with local newspapers, Gus Dur -- well-known for
\nhis scathing criticism of the government -- has denied abandoning
\nPDI for Golkar and Megawati for Mbak Tutut.<\/p>\n
His relations with President Soeharto were believed to have
\nbeen strained until he was seen shaking hands with the head of
\nstate in public in November.<\/p>\n
He later shook hands with Vice President Try Sutrisno and Army
\nChief of Staff Gen. R. Hartono, which observers said were signs
\nof improving Gus Dur--government relations.<\/p>\n
NU, established in 1926 as a socioreligious organization, was
\nonce a powerful political party before merging with other Moslem
\nparties to form the United Development Party (PPP) in 1973.<\/p>\n
In 1984 it withdrew from formal politics but individual
\nmembers remain free to affiliate with any of the three parties:
\nGolkar, the PPP and the PDI.<\/p>\n
It is a rural-based organization; students and leaders of
\nIslamic boarding schools make up the bulk of its membership. (08)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mbak-tutut-to-work-with-nu-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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