30 NU clerics support Gus Dur as president

The Jakarta Post, Lombok/Jakarta

As many as 30 influential Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) clerics affirmed on Wednesday their support for Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid's presidential bid and entrusted him to hand pick an alternative should his health become a major stumbling block.

However, NU Chairman Hasyim Muzadi, who did not attend the meeting on Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara, criticized the move by the clerics, saying they did not have the authority to endorse anyone on behalf of the country's largest Muslim organization and such a move could spark polarization among the other NU ulemas.

The clerics met at the Komarul Huda Islamic boarding school in Bagu area in Central Lombok, following a previous gathering in Buntet subdistrict in the West Java town of Cirebon on March 9, which also resulted in their nomination of Gus Dur for the presidential election on July 5.

Among the noted clerics were Abdullah Faqih of Langitan in the East Java town of Tuban, Abdullah Abas of Buntet and Fachruddin Masturo of Sukabumi in West Java. The clerics came from across the country. They also endorsed Gus Dur's presidential bid in the 1999 election which he won.

The National Awakening Party (PKB), the party NU helped found in 1998, has also nominated Gus Dur as its presidential candidate.

Gus Dur was present in the meeting in Lombok, and expressed his readiness to run for the president.

Kyai Ibnu Ubaidillah from Arjawinangun boarding school told reporters that the clerics' recommendation would be handed over to the national congress of the National Awakening Party (PKB) in Jakarta on April 25.

"Gus Dur is the only presidential candidate we support," he said.

After hearing about the health requirements set by the General Elections Commission (KPU), Ibnu said the clerics also authorized Gus Dur to appoint his replacement if he could not run.

"If KPU prevents Gus Dur from running, we'll let him choose anyone he trusts to take his place," Ibnu said.

Physical disabilities could very well prevent presidential candidates from running, because according to KPU regulation No. 26/2004, they must get a health checkup, including an eye exam. Gus Dur is said to be nearly blind, after a series of strokes.

In Jakarta, PKB Chairman Alwi Shihab filed a judicial review with the Supreme Court in protest of the KPU regulation requiring medical checkups for presidential and vice presidential candidates.

"This regulation is against the basic rights of the disabled. If the court fails to reject it, we will challenge it at the international rights commission," Alwi said.

Alwi also said PKB might establish a coalition with other political parties, including the Golkar Party, for the presidential race.

"We will decide during our national working meeting next week," he said.

Gus Dur has met several times with Gen. (ret) Wiranto, who won Golkar's nomination for the presidency early on Wednesday.

NU executive board also held a plenary meeting at its headquarters in Central Jakarta, attended by all influential members from its main regulatory body, the syuriah, and its executive body, the tanfidziah.

"It is not in the organization's capacity to propose candidates, but we will fully respect the ongoing political process. If certain parties pick NU members as their candidates, we respect it as their own basic right," NU Chairman Hasyim Muzadi announced during a press conference.

"Any presidential or vice presidential hopeful who comes from the NU, however, should be considered as individuals and they cannot claim to represent NU or exploit NU symbols because this organization does not belong to certain individuals."