Sudomo's NU offer welcomed<\/p>\n
SEMARANG (JP): Leaders of Indonesia's largest Moslem
\norganization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), reportedly at odds with
\nPresident Soeharto, have welcomed an offer from the President's
\nclose aide, Sudomo, to mediate.<\/p>\n
K.H. Ilyas Ruchiyat, the chairman of the organization's
\nSyuriyah law-making body, expressed gratitude for the initiative
\nof Sudomo, who heads the Supreme Advisory Council. Ilyas hoped
\nthat the standoff would soon be brought to an end so that no
\nparties would be able to exploit the situation for political
\ngain.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman Wahid, NU's executive board chairman better known
\nas Gus Dur, said Sudomo's offer was "a new development" in the
\ngovernment's stance on the organization. "This indicates a
\ngrowing interest in NU," he said.<\/p>\n
"I thank Sudomo," Ilyas said, citing that the offer would
\ndispel rumors about the poor relationship between Soeharto and NU
\nleaders, especially Abdurrahman.<\/p>\n
Sudomo, according to press accounts last week, reportedly said
\nthat Soeharto was neither displeased with Abdurrahman nor
\noffended by his criticisms of the President's leadership in the
\nbook A Nation in Waiting.<\/p>\n
Written by Adam Schwarz and published in Australia, the book
\ndeals with the current political situation in Indonesia, the
\ngrowing role of Islam in politics, and the involvement of
\nSoeharto's friends and family members in business.<\/p>\n
The only reason why NU leaders have not been invited to meet
\nwith the President is because he was not aware of the ulemas'
\nrequest for an audience, Sudomo said.<\/p>\n
He pointed out that the letters could very well be misplaced.<\/p>\n
"Pak Harto is a democratic man. It's not possible that he
\nwould refuse to meet with leaders of NU, (an organization) with
\ngreat potential," Sudomo said.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman himself said last week he will not make another
\nattempt to meet with President Soeharto after having been
\nrebuffed twice since his 1994 re-election as NU chairman.<\/p>\n
He said here Saturday that he has received no reply to the two
\nrequests he has made in the past two years to meet with the
\nPresident.<\/p>\n
"Two letters (requesting to meet with the President) are
\nenough," he told journalists who asked why Soeharto has not met
\nhim or been given the President's "blessing".<\/p>\n
President Soeharto's "refusal" to see Abdurrahman has allowed
\ncritics to question the legality of the chairmanship of
\nAbdurrahman, who was democratically re-elected and whose
\nleadership is recognized by the government.<\/p>\n
NU, Indonesia's largest Moslem organization, focuses its
\nmission on education and social services. But it gives its
\nmembers the freedom to get involved in politics on an individual
\nbasis.<\/p>\n
Political observer Susilo Utomo at Diponegoro University said
\nthat he hoped Sudomo's offer was "pure" and free of ulterior
\nmotives and not another attempt to meddle in the organization's
\ninternal affairs. (har\/swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sudomos-nu-offer-welcomed-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}