NU clerics to meet before congress<\/p>\n
CIREBON, Jawa Barat: A group of Nahdlatul Ulama clerics plan
\nan informal gathering here this weekend to evaluate the
\nperformance of the country's largest Muslim organization.<\/p>\n
The meeting comes less than two months before the NU congress
\nelects its chairman for the 2004-2009 period.<\/p>\n
Organizing committee chairman Lukman Hakim said the meeting
\nwould accommodate criticism from the grass roots against the NU
\nelite for dragging the organization into politics. NU declared
\nitself a nonpolitical organization in 1984.<\/p>\n
\"We will listen to the opinions and aspirations of the grass
\nroots. They could not be conveyed through the congress, as only
\nofficials in the structure are be invited,\" Lukman said.<\/p>\n
NU deputy chairman Masdar Mas'udi, Mustofa Bisri of Rembang,
\nCentral Java, Malik Madani, Ilyas Ruchiyat of Tasikmalaya, Tuan
\nGuru Turmudi of West Nusa Tenggara and Habib Luthfi of
\nPekalongan, Jawa Tengah, are among clerics who have confirmed
\ntheir entry to the informal meeting at Babakan Islamic boarding
\nschool.<\/p>\n
NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi and his predecessor Abdurrahman
\nWahid have been invited but not yet responded.<\/p>\n
NU members were split between supporting Megawati and Wiranto
\nin the first round of presidential elections in July and between
\nMegawati and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in the September runoff. --
\nJP<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nu-clerics-to-meet-before-congress-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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