Elder scholars call for NU reconciliation
Elder scholars call for NU reconciliation
JAKARTA (JP): The largest Moslem organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) is striving to contain the growing number of conflicts among its leaders and asking other parties to be left alone.
K.H. Ilyas Ruhiat, a senior ulema who holds the most prestigious position in the organization, Rais Aam (chairman) of the law-making body (Syuriyah), asked various quarters "within or outside of" NU not to "fan the conflicts into anything bigger".
"All of NU ulemas want to solve our problems, and reconcile," he told The Jakarta Post on Saturday. "I call on every concerned party not to prolong these conflicts."
The same call was made by a former Rais Aam, K.H. Ali Yafie, who is now deputy chairman of the influential Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI). He told the press on Friday that whether dissensions within NU could be resolved would depend on the ulemas' efforts to make peace "in their own family".
The organization, which has more than 28 million followers, just held their congress and elections. The newly re-elected chairman of board of executives (Tanfidzyah) Abdurrahman Wahid excluded his stiffest competitor Abu Hasan from the board and has since been swamped with dissensions.
The camp of Abu Hasan reportedly plans to sue Abdurrahman for slander and has been demanding that the NU convene an extra- ordinary congress to replace the board, which they have never recognized.
Abdurrahman remains confident that the issues will eventually be resolved, due to NU's strong traditions of loyalty and intolerance of any violations of the organization's statutes. "There will be no such thing as a rival board, because NU followers would never let it happen," Abdurrahman has said.
More recently, however, there have been speculations that Gus Dur, as Abdurrahman is popularly known, might give in to the pressures. A number of his opponents could also hold a "repeat congress", which would shift him to another position and put Abu Hasan on the executive board.
Ilyas did not mention such possibilities, but only said that "all parties involved in the problems have agreed to take steps to improve situation".
"We have taken several steps, including holding mass prayers, and instructing all rais (chairmen) at every level to control any signs of trouble," he said.
He said the kyais in the Mustasyar (advisory board) have also approached the disputing leaders and urged them to sit down together and discuss their conflicts.
Ilyas acknowledged that resolution may not come too easily as "the conflicting parties have not yet agreed on ways to make peace". "We're still trying, and praying," he said.
Members of the newly established leadership boards will meet in Jakarta on Wednesday to discuss programs to be carried out in the near future and any opportunity for reconciliation.
Ali Yafie told the Antara news agency that reconciliation would not be easy "because emotions have been running high, and they will need a while to cool down".
He was optimistic, though, that there would not be any need to hold a repeat congress. "It's just not a tradition of NU," he said. "Let's just hope that Gus Dur and Abu Hasan will soon make up."
Meanwhile, NU leaders from the Riau provincial chapter called on the government "to find the best way to save NU from destruction and division". (swe)