NU calls for unity on presidency<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro
\nand Nana Rukmana
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nJakarta\/Cirebon<\/p>\n
The country's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU)
\ndisclosed that it had asked its followers to vote for a single
\ncandidate for the country's next president in the 2004 general
\nelection.<\/p>\n
NU, nevertheless, grants its followers freedom to vote for a
\ncandidate of a political party of their choice in the election of
\nlegislative members.<\/p>\n
The recommendation was issued after the organization held a
\nthree-day meeting here, which ended on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\"The next general election is different from the past as the
\nnation will directly elect legislative members and the president
\nand vice president.<\/p>\n
\"Regarding the legislative election, we allow NU followers to
\nchannel their political aspirations through their preferred
\nparties in line with our commitment and historical legacy. But on
\nthe issue of the direct presidential and vice presidential
\nelection, we ask NU followers to put their different political
\ninterests aside and be united in voting for the country's best
\nindividual,\" NU Deputy Chairman Achmad Bagdja told a press
\nconference on Saturday.<\/p>\n
NU Chairman Hasyim Muzadi also attended the press conference
\nheld at NU's head office in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The NU leaders, however, declined to name any candidates for
\npresident or vice president.<\/p>\n
\"We just agree to certain conditions, that the candidate
\nshould have a strong concept of nationalism and the ability to
\ntake the country out of the prolonged multidimensional crisis.\"
\nAchmad said.<\/p>\n
Asked whether Hasyim was among the candidates, Achmad
\nlaughed.<\/p>\n
\"NU is not in a position to propose any candidates because it
\nis the prerogative of political parties,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Hasyim, himself, refused to comment on whether he would run
\nfor the presidency, saying he left the issue to the NU's internal
\npolicymakers.<\/p>\n
Many believe that Hasyim, who leads the 40 million-strong
\norganization, has ambitions to run for president.<\/p>\n
Golkar Party's provincial chapters in East Java and South
\nKalimantan have named Hasyim as a presidential candidate. Golkar,
\nthe second largest party, plans to hold a national convention to
\nelect a presidential candidate, who will be selected among
\nnominees proposed by provincial chapters.<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri's Indonesian Democratic Party
\nof Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) has also tipped Hasyim as one of
\nMegawati's running mates in a bid to accommodate the aspirations
\nof the Muslim community.<\/p>\n
Taufik Kiemas, Megawati's husband, has reportedly held
\ninformal meetings with Hasyim to talk about the issue.<\/p>\n
None of NU-affiliated parties, the National Awakening Party
\n(PKB), Muslim Community Awakening Party (PKU) and Nahdlatul Ummat
\nParty (PNU), have disclosed its presidential and vice
\npresidential candidates.<\/p>\n
But NU politicians from various parties, including Golkar and
\nthe United Development Party (PPP) which is chaired by Vice
\nPresident Hamzah Haz, have regularly held meetings to discuss the
\npresidential and vice presidential candidates.<\/p>\n
If he runs for presidency, Hasyim will face his predecessor
\nand PKB chief patron Abdurrahman Wahid, who has repeatedly said
\nthat Hasyim had to relinquish his top post at NU before joining
\nthe race.<\/p>\n
Saying that Hasyim had formed a team to help him win his
\npresidential bid, Gus Dur, as Abdurrahman is widely known, warned
\nthe NU chairman against using the country's largest Islamic
\norganization as his political vehicle.<\/p>\n
In Cirebon, NU executive Said Agil Siradj claimed that Gus Dur
\nhad won support from NU clerics, PKB and non-Muslim organizations
\nto run for the presidency for a second time.<\/p>\n
\"The direct presidential election will pave the way for Gus
\nDur to reclaim the presidency. I can say that all clerics, ulema,
\nIslamic boarding school students and even non-Muslim communities
\nwill vote for a populist figure like Gus Dur,\" Said Agil said.<\/p>\n
Said Agil, however, warned of a plot to foil Gus Dur's
\ncandidacy, referring to the direct presidential bill that
\nrequires a candidate to be in good health. Gus Dur has impaired
\neyesight.<\/p>\n
\"Such a discriminative requirement must be reconsidered,\" Said
\nAgil said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nu-calls-for-unity-on-presidency-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}