NU urges ABRI to join reform movement<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia's largest Moslem
\nsocial organization, called on the Armed Forces (ABRI) yesterday
\nto join the growing movement for political reforms.<\/p>\n
\"ABRI should protect and support the demand for improvement
\nwhich has been brewing in society,\" NU's executive board said of
\nthe student-led movement.<\/p>\n
Noting that ABRI was \"born out of the people\", NU said it was
\nonly to be expected that it should protect the interests of
\ncitizens.<\/p>\n
\"It is appropriate that ABRI becomes part of this movement for
\nimprovement of our common cause.<\/p>\n
\"It (ABRI) is not part, or even a tool, of the establishment
\nthat opposes ishlah,\" it said, using the Islamic term it adopts
\nfor reforms.<\/p>\n
The organization's secretary-general, Achmad Bagdja, read the
\nstatement after a meeting of the board at NU headquarters. Ilyas
\nRukhyat, the chairman of NU's lawmaking body, was also present.<\/p>\n
Executive board chairman Abdurrahman Wahid, also known as a
\npro-democracy leader, was absent. NU staffers said he was
\nrecuperating following lengthy hospital treatment for a stroke.<\/p>\n
NU said the military should respond positively to the reform
\nmovement. \"It should not oppose, or even quell it.\"<\/p>\n
\"ABRI's operation to ensure security around the demonstrations
\nshould be seen as protecting them (the students),\" it said.<\/p>\n
NU defined ishlah as \"improving or changing things that are
\nimperfect, or replacing those that are old and damaged\".<\/p>\n
Change is sunnah, or Allah's law, that cannot be opposed, it
\nadded.<\/p>\n
\"To reject reform or ishlah is tantamount to reject Allah's
\nsunnah and to neglect people's potential to change and improve
\ntheir lives,\" it said.<\/p>\n
The organization regretted violence during several protests
\nand at reports of disappearances, and called on the authorities
\nto take responsibility in containing the problems.<\/p>\n
\"To all student activists, we make an appeal that in fighting
\nfor reforms, you maintain your intellectual character, control
\nyour emotions and be alert against acts of provocation that could
\ntarnish your holy intentions or divert attention away from the
\nreal problems facing the nation.\"<\/p>\n
The military has tolerated students protesting on campuses but
\nmoved firmly against those trying to take to the streets, which
\nhas often resulted in minor clashes.<\/p>\n
Gen. Wiranto, the ABRI chief and minister of defense and
\nsecurity, proposed organizing a dialog with students, but his
\ngesture has received a lukewarm reception.<\/p>\n
Although NU endorsed the dialog proposal, it said both parties
\nwould have to meet on equal terms for it to be effective.<\/p>\n
\"Each side should remember that they're doing it for the
\ncommon cause of improving this beloved nation.\" (rms\/emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nu-urges-abri-to-join-reform-movement-1447893297",
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