NU's 4th party established in Jombang<\/p>\n
JOMBANG, East Java (JP): Thousands of supporters of Nahdlatul
\nUlama witnessed on Sunday the launching of Partai Kebangkitan
\nUmat (Ummah Awakening Party, PKU), born out of disappointment in
\nthe previous three NU affiliated parties.<\/p>\n
Chairman Yusuf Hasyim declared the new party's readiness to
\ncontest the general election and said the party was ready to
\ncompete with the other NU parties -- the SUNI, the National
\nAwakening Party (PKB) and Nahdlatul Ummat Party. He described his
\nparty as \"Islamic, adhering to the Sunni branch, not secular\".<\/p>\n
The Ummah Awakening Party was first introduced in Jakarta on
\nSept. 21, but was only formally launched on Sunday at Tebuireng
\nIslamic boarding school. Among those present at the event were
\nIrsyad Sudiro of Golkar, Ahmad Sumargono of the Crescent Star
\nParty, Nurmahmudi Ismail of the Justice Party and Jombang Regent
\nAffandi.<\/p>\n
The secretary-general of the party is Asnawi Latief, while
\nother executives include Shalahuddin Wahid (the younger brother
\nof Nahdlatul Ulama chairman Abdurrahman Wahid) and Fahmi
\nSaefuddin.<\/p>\n
Jusuf, who is an uncle of Abdurrahman Wahid, said he had
\ndiscussed the possibility of forming an alliance with SUNI
\nchairman Abu Hasan and Nahdlatul Ummat Party chairman Syukron
\nMakmun.<\/p>\n
\"We are hoping these three parties will not direct their
\nmembers to support a secular leader,\" Jusuf said. \"There's a
\npossibility that the National Awakening Party (led by Matori
\nAbdul Djalil) will ally itself with the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty and put forward (its chairwoman) Megawati Soekarnoputri as
\npresidential candidate.<\/p>\n
\"This cannot be accepted among the lower layers of Nahdlatul
\nUlama,\" he said, charging that Matori's party, which has the full
\nendorsement of Abdurrahman Wahid, would \"plunge\" its supporters
\ninto \"secular choice.\"<\/p>\n
Killings<\/p>\n
In his remarks, Jusuf also called for an immediate stop to the
\nkilling of Moslem people, especially Nahdlatul Ulama members. He
\nwas referring to the murder spree in East Java, which has
\nreportedly spread to Central Java and other areas.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Antara reported on Sunday that angry mobs killed
\nthree people in Demak, Central Java, in reprisal for murders
\nallegedly committed by unidentified people wearing ninja-like
\nmasks and dark clothing.<\/p>\n
The three victims, including a woman, were assumed by the mobs
\nto be \"ninja-killers\" out to kidnap their ulemas. However, the
\nnews agency also reported that the victims were on a field
\nhunting for snakes.<\/p>\n
Local police identified the two men as Damuri Ismoyo, 50, and
\nNgatipan, 45, but failed to reveal the woman's identity as she
\nreportedly carried four identification cards.<\/p>\n
Central Java Police chief Maj. Gen. Nurfaizi said on Sunday in
\nSemarang that police would take stern action against people who
\ntook the law into their own hands.<\/p>\n
Central Java Police so far have apprehended four men involved
\nin the attack.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Nurul Huda of Nahdatul Ulama (NU) executive board
\nin Demak called on people to turn suspected killers into the
\nauthorities.<\/p>\n
\"Killing people is a great sin,\" Nurul said. (nur\/edt)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nus-4th-party-established-in-jombang-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }