NU plans to discuss presidential term<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's largest Moslem organization plans to
\ndiscuss whether Islamic law and tradition makes any stipulation
\non the length of the presidential term.<\/p>\n
Leaders of the East Java branch of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU)
\nwill meet in Surabaya next Saturday and Sunday to discuss the
\nquestion.<\/p>\n
A spokesman for the branch said yesterday that the issue of
\nthe presidential term is among 12 religious questions to be
\ndeliberated by the branch.<\/p>\n
\"The topic has been included in response to public queries
\nabout Islam and the presidential term of office,\" H.M. Sholeh
\nHayat was quoted by the Antara news agency as saying.<\/p>\n
He then explained about a tradition in the history of Islam,
\nthrough which caliphs or heads of state could lead or stay in
\npower for life.<\/p>\n
Ulemas usually only provide leaders or power holders with
\nguidelines on leadership, rather than on the length of their term
\nof office, Hayat said.<\/p>\n
The ulemas will also discuss technical questions such as the
\nlaw on sending female workers away from home without escorts.
\nChairman of NU's central executive board Abdurrahman Wahid will
\nattend the meeting.<\/p>\n
An observer from the Surabaya Teachers College, Ali Haidar,
\napplauded NU's decision to touch on the sensitive issue. \"The
\nreligious discussion, even though it has political, social or
\ncultural tones is conducted only for the sake of Islam, not for
\nother interests,\" he said.<\/p>\n
NU currently has some 30 million members and supporters,
\nespecially in rural areas. Analysts have often said the
\norganization represents an attractive power base for interest
\ngroups.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto will end his sixth five-year term in 1998.<\/p>\n
Separately, MKGR, a social organization affiliated with the
\nruling political grouping Golkar, yesterday declared that, like
\nseveral other groups before it, it will nominate incumbent
\nPresident Soeharto for another presidential term.<\/p>\n
Chairperson Mien Sugandhi told the press in Magelang, Central
\nJava, that support for the re-election of Soeharto is already
\nflowing in from Indonesia's 27 provinces. \"MKGR will certainly
\nnominate him,\" she said. \"Every time I go to various places,
\npeople there invariably support Pak Harto\".<\/p>\n
Mien, who is also State Minister for Women's Roles, seconded
\nthe recent statement of Minister of Transmigration Siswono
\nYudohusodo that there is no better candidate for the presidency
\nof the nation than Soeharto.<\/p>\n
\"There is no stronger candidate,\" Siswono had said.<\/p>\n
Mien said she decided to nominate Soeharto \"not because I'm a
\nminister, but because I know for sure that Pak Harto establishes
\nprograms to improve people's welfare based on the Constitution
\nand state ideology Pancasila\". (swe\/har)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nu-plans-to-discuss-presidential-term-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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