NU seeks political balancing act<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman Wahid, more popularly known as Gus Dur, has never
\nstopped making controversial moves. Head of the largest Moslem
\norganization, Nahdlatul Ulama, Gus Dur recently invited President
\nSoeharto's daughter Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana (Tutut) to visit NU's
\nboarding schools (pesantren) in her capacity as Golkar leader to
\nwin electoral votes. Muhammad A.S. Hikam examines Gus Dur's
\nrecent political maneuver.<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): It has been Nahdlatul Ulama's moral commitment
\nto implement fairness in politics, said Gus Dur when asked why he
\nhad extended an invitation to Tutut, as President Soeharto's
\ndaughter is more popularly known, to visit NU's pesantren.<\/p>\n
It is a fact that NU has a record number of members and the
\norganization has stayed out of politics since 1984. Its wide
\nmembership obliges it to offer each political party an
\nopportunity to win votes. It is only natural for the 30-million
\nstrong organization to play a balancing role with neutrality.<\/p>\n
The invitation to Tutut highlighted at once the speculation of
\npolitical ties between Gus Dur and Megawati Soekarnoputri, the
\nousted chairman of a loose alliance between the nationalist and
\nthe Christian elements, the minority Indonesian Democratic Party
\n(PDI).<\/p>\n
But not everyone is capable of seeing Gus Dur and Megawati's
\nrelationship as moral support from a pro-democracy activist to a
\npolitical party leader having the same political vision,
\nintegrity and concern. Most people, particularly Gus Dur's
\npolitical opponents, look at the relationship as an effort to
\nestablish a political alliance between the Islamic group and the
\nnationalist group.<\/p>\n
Inevitably, this prejudice has contributed to the emergence of
\nvarious problems pitting Gus Dur and NU face-to-face against the
\nauthorities.<\/p>\n
Actually, the idea to invite a figure like Tutut to visit
\npesantren has existed for a long time and has won support from NU
\nmembers as a testament to NU's trademark of balanced politics.
\nGus Dur has apparently chosen three months before the general
\nelection and there are rumors the invitation is not limited to
\nvisits to pesantren but also to NU rallies in the provinces.<\/p>\n
Why has the choice of a Golkar representative fallen on Tutut
\nand not on Golkar's chairman Harmoko? I think it is only a matter
\nof priority. Tutut is seen as being a stronger magnet for NU
\nmembers. Apart from being a woman, she is President Soeharto's
\ndaughter. Moreover, she is chairman of coordinators for East Java
\nand Central Java provinces in Golkar's leadership board. These
\ntwo provinces form the strongest NU base. For Tutut herself, the
\nvisits would probably boost her political stature and experience.
\nThis is of great importance if she intends to enter politics in
\nthe future.<\/p>\n
What will be the political impact for NU and Gus Dur if Tutut
\nreceives this invitation? The impact on NU is clear. It will
\nerase Gus Dur's political stigma of being a government
\nopposition. However, it will also be a test of NU's balanced
\npolitics principle. If NU passes the test, it is not only
\nconsistent with its decision to stay out of politics but it will
\nalso become a model of political maturity for Moslems in the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
For Gus Dur, the experiment may put him in a vulnerable
\nposition to be attacked by his foes who say that he is not
\nconsistent with his political stance and should keep a distance
\nfrom power holders. They will see the invitation to Tutut as an
\nattempt to approach the authorities.<\/p>\n
In my opinion, this criticism is too hasty. It is true that
\nGus Dur has never failed to discharge his sharp criticism of the
\ngovernment to this day. Gus Dur's views remain opposed to those
\nin power regarding many sensitive issues like the handling of the
\nSitubondo and Tasikmalaya riots, the legality of the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party (PDI) under Megawati, the question of halal
\nlabels on food and beverages, human rights, democratization and
\nothers.<\/p>\n
Gus Dur's maneuver this time can be interpreted as a portrait
\nof NU's political realism in anticipating future changes,
\nespecially in the aftermath of the 1997 general election. In the
\nlong struggle for democracy, a consistent and realistic attitude
\nis needed by an organization as big as NU to steer clear of the
\nrocks in rapid waters.<\/p>\n
The writer is a researcher at the Indonesian Institute of
\nSciences, Jakarta.<\/p>",
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