East Java wants Gus Dur to retain NU top position
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)