30 NU clerics support Gus Dur as president
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."