Nahdlatul Ulama and its challenges in the future<\/p>\n
By MMI Ahyani<\/p>\n
TASIKMALAYA, West Java (JP): In the organizational mechanism
\nof the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Rois 'Am Syuriah (chairman of the
\nCentral Governing Board's law-making body), is a key position of
\nno less significant than the position of chairman of the
\nTanfidziah (executive board) himself.<\/p>\n
However, KH Ilyas Ruchiyat, who has this position, has kept a
\nlow profile, so his name is not as famous as Abdurrahman Wahid,
\npopularly known as Gus Dur, who is chairman of the executive
\nboard.<\/p>\n
Ilyas, patron of Cipasung Islamic boarding school in
\nSingaparna, 20 kilometers from here, looks fit despite his age.
\nThe 65-year-old clergyman also travels frequently to Jakarta,
\nBandung and other cities.<\/p>\n
He had just arrived from Jakarta when The Jakarta Post met him
\nat his boarding school.<\/p>\n
In the interview, he anticipated the challenges to be faced by
\nthe NU in the future, which include mounting calls on the review
\nof the Khittah (initial commitment not to get involved in
\npolitics) as stipulated by its founding fathers in 1926.<\/p>\n
However, in its course, the NU left that commitment. It was in
\nits 1984 congress in Situbond, East Java, that the organization
\ndecided to return to its Khittah.<\/p>\n
Now, as many NU members play in politics by, among other
\nthings, being members or activists of political parties, the call
\nto review the Khittah is escalating.<\/p>\n
"We will have bigger challenges. The image of the
\norganization, its cadres, ulemas and all Muslims is at stake with
\nGus Dur elected as President. If he fails, our image will also be
\ntarnished," he said. "Thus, no one will let Gus Dur walk and work
\nalone."<\/p>\n
The following are excerpts of an interview ahead of the 30th
\nNU Congress scheduled to be opened on Nov. 21 at Lirboyo, Kediri,
\nEast Java.<\/p>\n
Question: At 30th NU congress to be held in Lirboyo between
\nNov. 21 and Nov. 27, what will be the main agenda of discussion?<\/p>\n
Answer: There has been a lot of input from various activities,
\nseminars, workshops and discussions, held in Islamic boarding
\nschools and campuses and among board members of the NU at the
\ncentral or regional levels. The topics are varied, such as the
\nmechanism of the establishment of future governments, the role of
\nwomen leaders, educational programs, intelligence-developing
\nprograms and even a desire to review the Khittah.<\/p>\n
The branches and some executive boards can also come up with
\nmany topics to be discussed at the upcoming congress, for example
\neconomic empowerment, cooperatives, welfare, vocational
\neducation, including political education. The NU also has its
\nthink-tank and research and development institute called RMI.
\nBesides, there is also input from intellectuals, observers and
\nindividuals who pay a great deal of attention to the NU. It is
\nthe job of the organizing committee to break down the various
\ninputs and categorize them according to the priority of
\ndiscussion during the upcoming congress.<\/p>\n
Q: What about Khittah NU itself, because the present political
\ncondition is much different from the past. Today, the NU plays a
\nsignificant role because Gus Dur is President while many NU
\ncadres are members of the House of Representatives. Many parties
\nwould like to have this matter discussed so that the NU can again
\ntake part in the political arena...<\/p>\n
A: I have also heard about this. Following the ongoing political
\nchanges and with the establishment of a new administration, many
\nquarters have suggested that the NU should review its Khittah,
\nwhich was reintroduced in 1984 in Situbondo. Meanwhile, many NU
\ncadres have set up political parties. As for myself, I cannot say
\nanything about this. Let's now return everything to what was
\ndecided in Situbondo.<\/p>\n
Q: Does this mean that the NU itself is ready if it is required
\nto review its Khittah?<\/p>\n
A: As I have said, just leave it to the congress. In principle,
\nthe NU will continue to be active in original fields, like
\neducation, Islamic propagation and social affairs. If later it is
\ndeemed necessary to discuss this matter, and if congress
\nparticipants would not mind, everything will be OK.<\/p>\n
Q: What about the election of Gus Dur as president? What attitude
\nwill the NU adopt, particularly with regard to the mechanism of
\ncontrol of his administration because it is closely linked with
\nthe image of the NU?<\/p>\n
A: The NU will remain within the confines of its own areas of
\nactivities. That its general chairman has been elected President
\nis a mandate which must be exercised. In the NU itself, there are
\nideas, particularly among some ulemas, to give criticism and
\ninput to Gus Dur. Gus Dur will never be allowed to take his own
\ncourse.<\/p>\n
Q: What mechanism will be employed, because this kind of control
\nis extraconstitutional in nature?<\/p>\n
A: A team has been set up and it is assigned to provide input
\ndirectly to Gus Dur through existing channels. Of course, these
\nulemas have their own channel to the President.<\/p>\n
Q: How can the NU continue to be critical toward Gus Dur and his
\nadministration?<\/p>\n
A: We'll continue to provide Gus Dur with constructive input
\nthrough criticism and correction. Several days ago, clergymen
\nassociated in the Langitan Forum gave Gus Dur this type of input.<\/p>\n
Q: Have they also given him any input about his idea to establish
\ntrade relations with Israel, or the threat of national
\ndisintegration and so forth?<\/p>\n
A: The NU does not attach special importance to the problem of
\nIsrael and the like. The NU is concerned with problems now
\nevolving in the community. I think this will also be discussed in
\nthe congress. About the threat of disintegration in Aceh, Maluku
\nand other regions, the congress, God willing, will issue its
\nrecommendation to the government.<\/p>\n
Q: The NU's West Java regional executive board wants the congress
\nto discuss relations with Israel.<\/p>\n
A: I think all regional and branch executive boards have the
\nright to propose any program.<\/p>\n
Q: To date, NU congresses have tried to stick to democratic
\nprinciples due to intervention from the authorities. Will the
\nupcoming congress be able to maintain this tradition considering
\nGus Dur is now at the at the helm of the nation?<\/p>\n
A: This fact will, in a way, affect the congress. It means that
\nit will bring in a fresh atmosphere because NU cadres will, for
\nthe first time, be proud that one of them is the President of the
\nRepublic of Indonesia. And then, will Gus Dur play a role here?
\nAs far as he gives constructive proposals, they may be taken as
\ninput. The fact that Gus Dur is now the President may save the
\ncongress from being subjected to interventions.<\/p>\n
Q: What about the role of the "blue blood" group? There have been
\nreports that a chairman of the policy-making board or executive
\nmust be a "blue blood" because it has been a tradition?<\/p>\n
A: Just leave it to the congress.<\/p>\n
Q: Will you be ready to be nominated?<\/p>\n
A: I'll leave it to the congress.<\/p>\n
Q: What about the names of candidates such as Said Agil Siradj,
\nFadjrul Falah, Hasyim Muzadi, Muhammad Iskandar, Hafidz Usman and
\nAhmad Bagja?<\/p>\n
A: I believe the activities of these people in the NU are known
\nto the public. About who will be the most suitable for the
\nposition of chairman, the congress participants will decide.<\/p>\n
Q: The main challenges of NU in future?<\/p>\n
A: They are the challenges to be encountered by the nation. In
\neducation, how to improve the intelligence of our children,
\nincluding efforts to prevent our people from being charmed by
\nprohibited things such as narcotics and drug abuse, uncivilized
\nbehavior and other problems not conducive to the improvement of
\ncharacter and intelligence. Therefore, since its inception, up to
\nthe time when the NU was involved in politics, it has tried to
\nestablish physical facilities in the hope of being able to
\nproduce a generation fitting the aspirations of the NU.<\/p>",
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