Establishment of `New NU' draws severe criticism

Establishment of `New NU' draws severe criticism

JAKARTA (JP): The establishment of the Nahdlatul Ummah forum,
dubbed by the press as the "New NU", by senior members of the
United Development Party (PPP), has been torn to pieces by
critics from within the party and the Nahdlatul Ulama, the
original NU.

The choice of name was deplorable, the idea behind it is
controversial and the timing, coming just ahead of a party
congress, is wrong, according to critics of the New NU.

The new forum would simply add a new problem to the party now
being torn by factional bickering, said Robbani Thoha, secretary
of the PPP chapter in Central Java.

The forum, originally intended to bridge the divisions between
the party's four factions, could instead become the fifth faction
to further complicate the problem, Robbani was quoted by the
Antara news agency as saying.

The choice of name caused particular consternation to NU, the
largest of the four factions in PPP, which is embroiled in a
battle for the party's leadership with the other factions.

"It is deplorable to see the attempt by some PPP politicians
to create a new faction within the party using a name which is
intended to resemble Nahdlatul Ulama, popularly known as NU,"
Chalid Mawardi, a member of the NU Executive Board, said in a
statement quoted by Antara.

Chalid said the founders of the new forum are known for their
anti-NU stance and their latest move was simply another deception
to discredit his organization which is also busy in preparing for
its own congress in November.

He said the founders should stop the plan to use the name
Nahdlatul Ummah at once because the abbreviation NU is already
recognized by the law as belonging to Nahdlatul Ulama.

The "New NU" was formally endorsed in Jakarta on Saturday by
wringing endorsements from a number of senior PPP politicians who
belong to neither of the four factions, including A.M. Saefuddin,
Ali Hardi Kiaidemak, Hadimulyo and Saleh Khalid.

The founders said the group's chief objective is to court
first time voters in the next general election in 1997, something
which they said neither the party nor the four factions had ever
handled seriously in previous elections.

Many current PPP leaders rose in ranks through their
activities in the factions. Only a few of them started their
political career in the PPP, the second largest political party
in Indonesia, after the military-backed Golkar and just ahead of
the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).

"Instead of creating a new faction, they should come up with
programs on how to unite the party. That would be a better way,"
said Djuhad Mahja, another functionary of the PPP Central Java.

Ircham A.R. said he had no objection to the forum but
suggested that it uses another "less offensive" name.

Another reason

Analysts said there was another reason why the non-faction PPP
politicians have decided to set up the new forum -- the fear that
they will be neglected when the congress parcel out the party's
top positions traditionally based on quotas.

The party is a fusion of four Islamic parties in 1973: NU,
Muslimin Indonesia (MI), Sarekat Islam (SI) and Perti.

The PPP is scheduled to open its congress on Aug. 28 in
Jakarta with the top agenda being to elect the new chairman and
appoint the new central executive board.

The establishment of the New NU has added a new twist to the
controversy as the various factions are drawing up their strategy
for the congress.

Ismail Hasan Metareum, the incumbent chairman who hails from
MI, on Monday announced his intention to run for the election,
counting heavily on the support of the leaders of the party's
provincial boards.

His nearest challenger is his own secretary general, Matori
Abdul Djalil who is supported by NU.

Meanwhile, a senior Armed Forces (ABRI) officer said the
military will stay out from the PPP leadership contest, the
Antara news agency reported.

"We will let PPP determine its own future, and whoever is
elected as chairman will not be a problem for us, because that is
the party's internal affair," Maj. Gen. Hari Sabarno, Assistant
to the ABRI Chief on Socio-Political Affairs, was quoted by the
Antara news agency as saying yesterday.

Earlier, ABRI chief spokesman Brig. Gen. Syarwan Hamid had
said that ABRI views Ismail Hasan as a person who is capable of
working with the military and the government.

His remarks raised speculation that the military is casting
its support to Ismail Hasan's reelection. (emb)