NU faulted for political involvement<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A group of Nadhatul Ulama (NU) Muslim preachers
\ncalled on the organization to remain faithful to their commitment
\nto work in the educational, social and religious fields and avoid
\ndelving into practical politics.<\/p>\n
\"If NU wants to return to politics then they should turn the
\norganization into a political party as they were before in 1971,\"
\nSjukron Ma'mun said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\"But as the organization had agreed to quit politics they
\nshould stick to that commitment,\" he remarked.<\/p>\n
Sjukron, who also heads Nadlatul Ummat Party (PNU), claimed
\nthat several Muslim preachers were concerned with statements from
\nNU leaders that expressed political support for President
\nAbdurrahman Wahid who was a former NU chairman.<\/p>\n
PNU is a small party which failed to win a seat in the House
\nof Representatives in the 1999 general election.<\/p>\n
Sjukron remarked that several statements made by leading
\nfigures of NU defending the President were even more zealous than
\nassertions made by the National Awakening Party which has
\nwidespread following among the NU faithful.<\/p>\n
He claimed that Abdurrahman's uncle, Yusuf Hasyim, who heads
\nTebu Ireng Islamic Boarding School in East Java and Asnawi Latief
\nfrom PNU were among the preachers concerned about the recent
\ntrend.<\/p>\n
The three Muslim preachers were also known as strong critics
\nof Abdurrahman.<\/p>\n
\"We've held a meeting and will convey the message to NU
\nleaders as their actions and statements will confuse people at
\nthe grassroots level,\" Sjukron added.<\/p>\n
He insisted that the call was simply a reminder that NU should
\nnot be caught up in the impasse faced by the political elite.<\/p>\n
\"Gus Dur should act like a real statesman and think about
\ngreater interests than his own. I told him this once but he
\nignored it so what more can I say,\" Sjukron further remarked,
\nreferring to Abdurrahman by his nickname.<\/p>\n
In 1984 NU declared that, as an organization, they would not
\ndelve into practical politics and instead focus their work on
\nhumanitarian, educational and social activities.(dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nu-faulted-for-political-involvement-1447893297",
"image": ""
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