Nahdlatul Ulama backs Soeharto's renomination<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's largest Moslem organization
\nNahdlatul Ulama (NU) has said it is confident President Soeharto
\nwill lead the country through a smooth leadership transfer.<\/p>\n
Chairman Abdurrahman Wahid told Friday a regional conference
\nof Nahdlatul Ulama in Kediri, East Java, that as a socio-
\nreligious organization, the NU did not concern itself with
\npolitical matters such as the election of the president and vice
\npresident.<\/p>\n
\"(We) realize that the election (of a new president) is fully
\nthe responsibility of the People's Consultative Assembly members
\nwho will discuss it in the assembly next March,\" said
\nAbdurrahman, who is better known as Gus Dur.<\/p>\n
\"Members of NU certainly support Pak Harto to lead Indonesia
\nthrough a safe, peaceful and smooth succession,\" Abdurrahman was
\nquoted as saying by Suara Pembaruan daily.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman conceded that many people believe that the NU,
\nwhich has some 30 million members, supports the renomination of
\nPresident Soeharto for another term, 1998 to 2003.<\/p>\n
\"This support, however, is not absolute,\" said Abdurrahman,
\nwho is considered by many to be an astute politician.<\/p>\n
\"What is clear is that we believe Pak Harto will be able to
\nlead the succession,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Whether the succession takes place in 1998 or 2003, that is
\nnot for Nahdlatul Ulama to say.\"<\/p>\n
Nahdlatul Ulama is considered one of the most important
\npolitical bases in Indonesia. The ex-political party now
\nofficially shuns politics, although it allows its individual
\nmembers to choose any political affiliation.<\/p>\n
But in practice the organization is sometimes persuaded into
\ndisplaying support for political figures.<\/p>\n
Its West Java branch, for instance, has shown its support for
\nthe nomination of Minister of Defense Edi Sudradjat as a vice
\npresidential candidate.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman, however, said again that Nahdlatul Ulama did not
\nhave any interests linked to any particular figure, and would,
\ntherefore, not name any candidates.<\/p>\n
\"However, as a social organization, Nahdlatul Ulama would like
\nit if the next vice president came from among the civilian
\npopulation... well, as a change from candidates from the Armed
\nForces,\" Abdurrahman was quoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
But he conceded that this wish would probably not be easily
\nrealized because since the New Order administration began there
\nhave only been two prominent civilians: House Speaker Harmoko and
\nState Minister for Research and Technology B.J. Habibie.<\/p>\n
\"Looks like we'll have to accept (political observer) Juwono
\nSudarsono's statement that the next vice president should still
\nbe someone from the Armed Forces,\" he said. (swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nahdlatul-ulama-backs-soehartos-renomination-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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