Top cleric decides to support Mega<\/p>\n
Nana Rukmana, Cirebon<\/p>\n
A prominent Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) cleric who organized two
\nmeetings to support the nomination of Abdurrahman \"Gus Dur\" Wahid
\nhas switched to Megawati Soekarnoputri and her running mate NU
\nchairman Hasyim Muzadi.<\/p>\n
Cirebon's Buntet Islamic boarding school spokesman Adib
\nRofi'uddin said on Monday that kyai khos (senior ulema) Abdullah
\nAbbas had decided to throw his weight behind the candidates of
\nthe Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) after Gus Dur
\nwas disqualified.<\/p>\n
Adib said the clerics of the boarding school had met to
\ndiscuss current political issues, particularly the July 5
\npresidential election, and unanimously decided to back the
\nMegawati-Hasyim pairing.<\/p>\n
Adib said Abbas was absent from the gathering for health
\nreasons, but had told the rest of the clerics through his brother
\nNahduddin Abbas that he endorsed the PDI-P candidates.<\/p>\n
\"We have consulted kyai Abdullah Abbas about the results of
\nthe meeting, which he approved,\" Adib said.<\/p>\n
He added the decision to support Megawati and Hasyim followed
\nthe request of a group of West Java NU clerics, who met on May 18
\nin Cirebon.<\/p>\n
\"The pair is expected to be able to accommodate people's
\naspirations for the betterment of the nation and NU members in
\nparticular. We hope they will uphold the supremacy of law,
\ndemocracy and political stability, and improve the economy,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Nahduddin confirmed on Monday his brother's nod to the
\nMegawati-Hasyim pair. \"Buntet boarding school's extended family
\nsupported the decision,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Abdullah was among the 31 influential clerics who met at
\nBuntet in February and in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, in April to
\nendorse former president Gus Dur's comeback bid. Gus Dur, a
\nformer NU chairman, was nominated by the National Awakening Party
\n(PKB), which he cofounded.<\/p>\n
Several clerics, including Abdullah Faqih from Langitan in
\nTuban, East Java, held talks with PKB leaders in mid-May, and
\ndecided to support Golkar presidential and vice presidential
\ncandidates Gen. (ret) Wiranto and Solahuddin Wahid if Gus Dur was
\ndisqualified by the General Elections Commission (KPU).<\/p>\n
Solahuddin was NU deputy chairman until his resignation, and
\nis a former activist with the National Commission for Human
\nRights (Komnas HAM) and Gus Dur's brother.<\/p>\n
In regards the KPU's decision, Adib said the clerics regretted
\nGus Dur's disqualification and would accept his decision not to
\nexercise his right to vote.<\/p>",
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