NU wins praises for its brave decision<\/p>\n
By Santi WE Soekanto and Petty Prihartini<\/p>\n
TASIKMALAYA, West Java (JP): Nahdlatul Ulama, the largest
\nMoslem organization, began its 29th congress with declarations by
\nits leaders which virtually put a plug on recent efforts to drag
\nit back into politics.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto opened the five-day congress by stating his
\napproval of the organization leaders' decision to reaffirm its
\n1984 vow to shun party politics.<\/p>\n
"It's a brave and right decision," Soeharto told some 10,000
\nNU leaders flocking at the Cipasung pondok pesantren (Islamic
\nboarding school) in the Singaparna district, where the
\norganization's five-day congress is taking place.<\/p>\n
"History has recorded that in the past Nahdlatul Ulama had
\nonce been involved in practical politics...(and) was forced to
\ndeal with problems which were not easy to solve," he said.<\/p>\n
"With this decision, NU members will be able to pay greater
\nattention to its mission, as well as give its members the mandate
\nto be responsibly involved in practical politics in an individual
\ncapacity," he said.<\/p>\n
NU leaders have chosen this congress as a platform to re-
\nconfirm a vow they made ten years ago that the organization would
\nreturn to its original mission. It was established in 1926 as a
\nreligious and educational organization, hence the return to the
\nKhittah (basic guidelines) of 1926.<\/p>\n
Prior to 1984, NU had been involved in politics, either as a
\npolitical organization or as a faction within the United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP), which was a fusion of several Moslem
\nparties.<\/p>\n
The "back to Khittah" decision, however, was not taken without
\nopposition. Some of the politicking ulemas in the organization
\nwho failed to snatch the chairmanship of PPP in September have
\ncampaigned to draw NU back into politics, arguing that the
\nexisting parties failed to represent their interests.<\/p>\n
The opening ceremony was also attended by First Lady Tien
\nSoeharto; several cabinet ministers; chairman of PPP Ismail Hasan
\nMetareum; chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI)
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri; and chairman of Golkar Harmoko.<\/p>\n
Praise<\/p>\n
Soeharto started off his speech by heaping praise on the
\norganization, which presently has some 34 million members, mostly
\nin rural areas, for its past and present contributions "for the
\ndevelopment of Indonesia as a nation based on the ideology of
\nPancasila".<\/p>\n
"NU views the country as the final form of the Moslems'
\nstruggle in politics," Soeharto said to loud applause from the
\ncongress participants who, upon arriving in Singaparna, have been
\nreminded by countless posters and banners of NU's vow to return
\nto the Khittah.<\/p>\n
"NU has stated this stance clearly...this stance is a great
\ncontribution for this country's solidity," Soeharto said.<\/p>\n
He also reminded the ulemas, who are scheduled to set up the
\norganization's programs as well as elect new leaders, to also
\ncontribute ideas on the government campaign for nationalism.<\/p>\n
"NU already has strong and clear concepts on how to balance
\nloyalty towards its religion, its nation and toward mankind."<\/p>\n
K.H. Moh. Ilyas Ruhiat, acting chairman (Rois Aam) of
\nSyuriyah, NU's law-making body, also made clear once and for all
\nin his opening speech that the organization will not return, as
\nan institution, to politics.<\/p>\n
"Politics is not 'haram' (forbidden)...it has important roles in
\nthe social order," he said, to a loud applause of the
\nparticipants. However, "NU frees its members (to enter politics)
\nresponsibly but also asks them to bear the political risks
\nwithout dragging the organization into the ensuing fray."<\/p>\n
"The organization also asks any of its members not to be
\ndragged into conflicts with other NU members who choose different
\npolitical avenues," said Ilyas, who is also the host of the
\ncongress.<\/p>\n
When chairman of the organizing committee, K.H. Munasir Ali,
\naddressed Harmoko, Megawati and Ismail Hasan he aptly described
\nNU's position as a potential power base which some political
\nparties have been eying with interest.<\/p>\n
"I know you all sympathize with NU, but after this (vow to
\nreturn to) Khittah, NU members will be everywhere including in
\n(your) parties," he said.<\/p>\n
PDI and Golkar leaders have been engaged in a kind of
\ncompetition to win a number of NU leaders who were frustrated by
\ntheir loss in PPP's chairmanship bid.<\/p>\n
Even Ismail Hasan of PPP, who promptly kissed Ilyas' hand upon
\nhis arrival at the congress venue, looked set to appease NU
\npoliticians when he offered important positions in the party's
\nadvisory council for NU leaders.<\/p>\n
Pilitics -- Page 2<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nu-wins-praises-for-its-brave-decision-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }