NU dissenters to set up rival chapter board<\/p>\n
SURABAYA (JP): Breakaway leaders in Indonesia's largest Moslem
\norganization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) are preparing to establish a
\nrival chapter in East Java.<\/p>\n
K.H. Hasib Wahab, the deputy chairman appointed to the rival
\ncentral board established last month, as well as an NU leader in
\nEast Java, announced yesterday their plan to set up the new
\nchapter.<\/p>\n
\"East Java is the first priority,\" he told The Jakarta Post.
\n\"Now we are opening registration for those who want to become
\nmembers.\"<\/p>\n
The province has long been considered an NU stronghold.<\/p>\n
Hasib, the kyai, or head, of the Bahrul Ulum Pesantren (an
\nIslamic boarding school), said his plan was in line with the
\nresults of the extraordinary congress and a leadership meeting
\nthat followed. Both events were organized by Abu Hasan, a leading
\ndissenter who lost the 1994 chairmanship race to incumbent
\nchairman Abdurrahman Wahid.<\/p>\n
Hasib also declared his readiness to be the chairman of the
\nchapter's Tanfidziyah (executive board). He also named several
\nother NU leaders, including Arifin Khan, Much. Baidlowi, H. Nilam
\nand As'ad Umar, as prospective board members.<\/p>\n
Hasib and the people he named are known to disagree with the
\nleadership of Abdurrahman Wahid, better known as Gus Dur.<\/p>\n
Both Hasib and Abdurrahman have lineage -- an important factor
\nin the organization's leadership -- tracing back to NU's founding
\nfathers. Abdurrahman is the grandson of revered scholar K.H.
\nHasyim Asy'ari, while Hasib is a son of Wahab Hasbullah who was
\nsimilarly respected.<\/p>\n
Hasib and Yusuf Hasyim, an uncle of Abdurrahman Wahid,
\nestablished a communication forum last year for NU children,
\nknown as FKPPNU, which campaigned against Abdurrahman.<\/p>\n
Hasib said yesterday he will soon meet with East Java Governor
\nBasofi Sudirman for a \"consultation\". He also vowed to proceed
\nwith the plan even if the governor, in his capacity as \"the
\npatron of the regional political development\", refused to \"bless\"
\nhis move.<\/p>\n
\"We are only trying to do good, so why would anyone prevent us
\nfrom doing so?\" he said.<\/p>\n
H.M. Sholeh Hayat, an NU leader in Abdurrahman's camp,
\nexpressed disbelief at Hasib's maneuver.<\/p>\n
\"He shouldn't try to awaken a sleeping tiger,\" he said. \"This
\nrival chapter board won't get any support (from NU members
\nhere).\"<\/p>\n
Sholeh said that most of Hasib's colleagues in the Bahrul Ulum
\nschool have already pledged their allegiance toward Abdurrahman.<\/p>\n
\"Hasib is taking a great risk,\" Sholeh said. He accused Hasib
\nand his camp of overstepping boundaries and said that they should
\nbe dismissed from the organization.<\/p>\n
Sholeh, who is the chairman of NU's East Java chapter, also
\ncriticized the government's ambiguous response to the rift in the
\n70-year-old organization.<\/p>\n
The fact that Abu Hasan could hold a congress, establish a
\nrival central board and later hold a meeting is proof of the
\ngovernment's unclear stance, he said.<\/p>\n
Basofi also objected to the development.<\/p>\n
\"I'm fed up with all this rival leadership business,\" he said
\non Tuesday. \"I really don't understand why people love to do
\nthese things.\"<\/p>\n
Basofi has for the past several years had his hands full with
\nthe infighting in the East Java chapter of the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party (PDI).<\/p>\n
He also denied having received Hasib's request for a meeting.<\/p>\n
Basofi added that if the dissenters come to see him, he'll
\nsimply tell them to meet with NU leaders from Abdurrahman's camp
\nin the province. \"This way they'll know for themselves how NU
\nmembers here feel about them,\" he said.(15\/swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nu-dissenters-to-set-up-rival-chapter-board-1447893297",
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