NU Jakarta supports Gus Dur until 2004<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta chapter of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU)
\npledged on Saturday to support President Abdurrahman \"Gus Dur\"
\nWahid amid a slew of resignation calls from various quarters.<\/p>\n
In a ceremony marking the 74th anniversary of the country's
\nlargest Muslim organization, the chapter's executives, on behalf
\nof NU and the indigenous Betawi community in Jakarta, stated that
\nthey were ready to defend Gus Dur until their last drop of blood.<\/p>\n
\"In the wake of denunciations and criticism calling for the
\nPresident's resignation, which is unconstitutional, NU Jakarta
\nand the Betawi people will support the President until his term
\nends,\" Zaenal Arifin read out the chapter's statement in Tebet,
\nSouth Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The chapter became the first in the NU family to declare its
\nsupport for Abdurrahman, who was the organization's chairman for
\n15 years before being elected president last year.<\/p>\n
Protests against the way Abdurrahman runs the government has
\ngrown into demands that he steps down. With the People's
\nConsultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais joining the opposition,
\nfears have loomed that the bickering could spark a massive
\nconflict between supporters of NU and Muhammadiyah, the second
\nlargest Muslim oganization once chaired by Amien.<\/p>\n
Minister of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises
\nDevelopment Zarkasih Noor, who was among the 1,500 NU suporters
\nattending Saturday's celebration, lashed out at critics who
\ndemanded Abdurrahman step down for failing to cope with the
\ncomplicated problems facing the nation.<\/p>\n
\"It's naive to ask Gus Dur to step down because he was unable
\nto settle the problems,\" Zarkasih said.<\/p>\n
Zarkasih added that whoever had been elected the country's
\npresident would have been unable to settle the country's
\nchallenges in a year.<\/p>\n
He called on NU supporters not to react angrily or be provoked
\nby demands for the President to resign.<\/p>\n
He also suggested that parties wishing to see Gus Dur resign,
\nsubmit their aspirations to the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
\"Just send the demand to the House. It should be conducted
\nconstitutionally,\" Zarkasih, who is also deputy chairman of the
\nUnited Development Party, said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Muhammadiyah deputy chairman Rosyad Soleh warned
\nthat certain parties were trying to pit the country's biggest
\nMuslim organizations against each other.<\/p>\n
\"If a conflict occurs, Indonesian Muslims would be in danger
\nas the two organizations are large,\" Rosyad said in the opening
\nceremony of Muhammadiyah's Jambi chapter meeting.<\/p>\n
Commenting on Amien's call, Rosyad said that the MPR Speaker
\nshould no longer be viewed as having any relation with the
\norganization.<\/p>\n
\"Amien should not be linked to Muhammadiyah,\" Rosyad was
\nquoted by Antara as saying on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Amien, who also chairs the National Mandate Party (PAN), has
\nrepeatedly asked the President to resign. His statements have
\nsparked anger among supporters of Abdurrahman, especially in East
\nJava.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile social observer Franz Magnis Suseno said demands for
\nAbdurrahman to step down showed a distinct lack of understanding
\nabout the democratic culture prevailing in the society.<\/p>\n
\"A democratic country should not be focusing on how to dismiss
\nthe incumbent president but more on the policies,\" Franz said.<\/p>\n
\"Demanding the President resign will not solve the problem\",
\nFranz said.<\/p>\n
Franz also said the People's Consultative Assembly's threat to
\nimpeach the President was excessive it as he believes the 1945
\nConstitution states that a president is installed to carry out a
\nfive-year mandate.<\/p>\n
\"There should be very strong (constitutional) reasons to hold
\na special session, such as if Gus Dur violates the constitution
\nor deviates from the State Policy Guidelines\".<\/p>\n
Franz further warned that ousting Gus Dur and Vice Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri before the end of their tenure would be a
\ndevastating turn for the development of democracy in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"That is why the people should avoid it,\" Franz said.(02\/jun)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nu-jakarta-supports-gus-dur-until-2004-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }