Analyst says Abdurrahman `too political'

Analyst says Abdurrahman `too political'

JAKARTA (JP): A political analyst said yesterday he supports
the recent outpouring of criticism against the current leadership
of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia's largest Moslem organization,
for its over-involvement in politics.

Syamsuddin Haris, a staff researcher at the Indonesian
Institute of Sciences (LIPI), said that NU's charismatic chairman
Abdurrahman Wahid "talks too much" and runs the risk of
alienating his followers.

"I agree with his critics, Abdurrahman has too much to say
about politics ... he is confusing his followers," Syamsuddin
told The Jakarta Post.

Syamsuddin suggested that Abdurrahman refrain from seeking
another term at the organization's helm so that NU may be able to
really commit itself to its 1984 khittah (pledge) to shun
politics and concentrate on educational and social affairs.

"Not that Abdurrahman's resignation would immediately improve
NU's performance, but it would help the organization," he said,
adding that NU should also revamp its structure in such a way to
allow it to have a more unified line of command.

During the last two weeks, as NU gears up toward its national
congress next month, criticism came hard and fast against
Abdurrahman, creating the impression of a deepening rift within.

Slamet Effendy Yusuf, chairman of Anshor Youth Movement -- an
organization under NU -- said Abdurrahman's leadership has been
marked with politicking, a clear violation of the khittah.

Abdurrahman and other NU leaders, according to Slamet, have
failed the organization and were guilty of "issuing harsh
political statements which were confusing the NU followers".

"NU should avoid being pulled into politics," said Slamet,
himself a politician from the ruling Golkar functional group
after deserting the Moslem-based United Development Party (PPP)
in the 1980s.

Another criticism against NU and chairman Abdurrahman came
from Chalid Mawardi, member of the Supreme Advisory Board as well
as an NU member. He called NU a "publicity junkie" and "acting
like a beautiful girl, who becomes angry whenever people don't
pay attention to her, and starts making sharp statements in order
to attract attention".

Abdurrahman denied the accusation that NU under his leadership
had disregarded the khittah, pointing out that during the last
decade, NU has continuously managed thousands of schools,
maternity clinics, Islamic study groups as well as mosques
throughout Indonesia.

"Those who accused NU of abandoning its real mission are a
bunch of frustrated people who couldn't get what they wanted," he
retaliated. "Slamet Effendy Yusuf and Chalid Mawardi made all
those accusations because congress time is nearer, and they want
something out of it."

Despite the criticism against Abdurrahman's leadership, a
number of NU members have publicly displayed loyalty and support
for the grandson of the founder of NU, the late K.H. Wahid
Hasyim.

The Antara news agency reported yesterday that NU leaders in
its stronghold of East Java branch have hinted that they would
support Abdurrahman if he sought another term.

K.H. Imam Sughro Wardi and Abdul Wahid from NU's office in
Blitar regency said they had yet to pick candidates for the NU
chairmanship election in Tasikmalaya, West Java, next month, but
that there was a common understanding that they would ask
Abdurrahman to run.

H. Fakih Usman from Mojokerto regency agreed, adding that "as
long as we don't have figures as capable of Abdurrahman, then we
hope he would agree to lead NU again".

Abdurrahman, who is currently Rois Aam Tanfidziyah (chairman
of the executive board), said repeatedly over the last two years
that he had no intention of seeking another term. He modestly
declined when a number of NU members recently asked him to run
for the position of Rois Aam Syuriyah (chairman of the law-making
body), saying he did not deserve such a reverential post.

"Let's respect that post, because it's a position which
requires high moral standards and vast religious knowledge," he
told Terbit daily Tuesday. "I don't meet those requirements."

NU leaders at the East Java provincial level, K.H. Imron
Hamzah and Fuad Anwar, refrained from expressing their stance
over the issue of Abdurrahman's chairmanship. Instead, they said
they would first hold three plenary meetings to formulate the
branch's positions, including naming their candidates for
chairman.

Despite his call that Abdurrahman refrain from seeking a fresh
term, Syamsuddin believed that it is likely that Abdurrahman
would be reappointed.

"He still has the legitimacy to lead the organization for
another term, at least from the fact that he is the grandson of
NU's founder " Syamsuddin said. "He still has a strong base and
the support of NU's traditional followers, those who are not
involved in politics." (swe)