East Java wants Gus Dur to retain NU top position
JAKARTA (JP): East Java yesterday also announced its support for the re-election of Abdurrahman Wahid, who hopes to stay at the helm of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) when Indonesia's largest Moslem organization elects its leaders at a congress next week.
The latest endorsement from East Java, which will represent the largest contingent at the (NU) congress to be held in Tasikmalaya, West Java, next week, virtually seals the reelection of Abdurrahman, popularly known as Gus Dur.
The Dec. 1-5 congress is to be opened by President Soeharto.
The East Java chapter of NU announced its position after a meeting of the leaders of 38 of the 42 branches in the province in Surabaya, the Antara news agency reported.
At the meeting, Gus Dur received 37 out of 38 possible votes for the position of chairman of NU executive board while Sahal Mahfud received 30 out of 38 possible for the chairman of the NU policy making board position.
Hierarchically speaking the policy making board is higher but the chairman position of the executive board is more prominent. This at least has been true during leadership of Gus Dur, a controversial political figure who has been at the helm since 1984.
From Mataram, Antara reported that the West Nusa Tenggara chapter yesterday also declared its support for Gus Dur.
"We're nominating Gus Dur because of his leadership qualities and his extensive knowledge," West Nusa Tenggara chapter acting chairman Bil'id said.
Earlier, Gus Dur had already won the endorsement from the West Java and Central Java chapters and it now looks almost certain that he would be reelected.
Gus Dur himself has stated his readiness to stay at the helm should that be the wish of the congress. A highly charismatic figure within NU, he had often come in conflict with the government and other Moslem leaders. Along with other intellectuals, he established the Forum for Democracy which never hesitated in criticizing the government.
Israel's visit
His latest stunt was his visit to Israel and a meeting with a senior Israeli foreign ministry official. Upon his return, he suggested that Indonesia establish diplomatic ties with Israel now that Jordan, Egypt and Syria have opened ties with their once arch enemy.
His trip and his suggestion were rebuked by government officials and Moslem leaders but surprisingly it did not dent his reelection chances.
NU leaders last week summoned Gus Dur to give an explanation about his Israeli trip. Later they announced they were satisfied that his trip and his recommendation were made in his capacity as a Moslem scholar and had nothing to do with his NU leadership.
Gus Dur had been widely commended for pulling NU out of party politics and returning it to its original mission, set out when it was founded in 1926, which is to promote the education and welfare of Moslems in Indonesia.
"One of the reasons why East Java is united in supporting Gus Dur is his ability to defend the Khittah (return to the spirit of) 1926 in the face of pressures from left and right," said Hasyim Muzadi, chairman of NU's chapter in East Java.
"Besides, he is quite democratic and does not show any ambition to remain chairman," he was quoted by Antara as saying. (emb)