Abdurrahman warns NU to evade external influences
Abdurrahman warns NU to evade external influences
JAKARTA (JP): Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Abdurrahman
Wahid warned members of the influential Moslem organization not
to let the forces of external political play tear them apart.
"NU members (may) join one or another political group for (the
sake of) the five-yearly general elections, but (the activities)
should not harm relationships among members," Abdurrahman told a
rally of some 10,000 NU youths in Semarang, on Sunday.
He said that NU, which boasts 35 million members in rural
areas, was established some 68 years ago to reach goals which are
farther-reaching than those of any other political groups. The
members, therefore, must not sacrifice their mission for their
political interests, he added.
His speech reflected the divided stands of NU members
regarding the organization's involvement in the coming election
of the United Development Party (PPP) and the power play within
it.
Some NU senior members, usually called kyai, have publicly
declared that they intend to wrest the party's leadership from
the smaller faction Muslimin Indonesia (MI). The statement
created controversies both within NU and among PPP members who
hail from the other three factions -- MI, Perti and Parmusi.
So far, Abdurrahman has been noncommittal, stressing that the
organization will neither prevent its members from running for
leadership, nor endorse them.
Analysts, however, have been concerned that the NU's move may
create or worsen friction among members.
"Macro" missions
Abdurrahman explained that if NU, as a Moslem-based
organization of scholars which has "macro" missions, is "used to
further the narrower-mission of political parties, then it is
tantamount to a betrayal of its mission."
"NU was not established to merely cater to members who are
(activists of) political parties or the bureaucracy; it's there
to serve the people, especially the unfortunates," Abdurrahman
was quoted as saying by the Antara news agency.
He reminded the NU members that there are still many tasks to
improve people's lives which they have not tackled yet. "There
are so many things to do," he said, lashing out at those who,
instead of taking care of the tasks professionally, "are busying
themselves with `narrow' affairs such as political parties."
He also reminded the young NU members that the organization
should be glued together by their common quest for "the victory
of Islam and the blessing of Allah". "These are our yardsticks
for success," he said.
No matter how good an orator a person is, or how skillful in
managing organizations or mobilizing people, he is nothing unless
he strives for the triumph of his religion and for God's
blessing, Abdurrahman said. "We should measure up our success not
with (activities in) the political parties, or even how NU fares
(in the political arena), but with how sincere we are in
upholding God's religion," he said.
"NU or political parties are nothing but the means to reach
those goals," he said. (swe)