Final touches made for NU congress
KEDIRI, East Java (JP): The finishing touches were made on Friday to the grand preparations for the start of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) congress, which will be opened on Sunday by it's chairman, Indonesia's President Abdurrahman Wahid.
Kediri Mayor Mas'ud, Kediri Military District chief Lt. Col. Putut Winarno, Lirboyo Islamic Boarding School director Idris Marzuki and organizing committee chairman An'im made a final inspection of the boarding school which will be used as the venue for the eight-day meeting.
While past NU congresses have always attracted substantial attention, the coming 30th congress is particularly significant as Abdurrahman is now the nation's top executive.
Not only will Abdurrahman be attending, but Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri is scheduled to close the congress on Friday.
Idris said the Rp 7 billion conference hall located in the middle of the 17-hectare boarding school compound and two other big dormitories were expected to accommodate some 1,700 participants.
"All material facilities needed for participants are ready," he said, noting that numerous businessmen in the province were also contributing various material and financial assistance.
He said the organizing committee also had some Rp 2.5 billion to finance the congress.
The scenery is likely to evolve into a festival-like atmosphere because apart from formal NU matters, the congress will also be used as an arena for the promotion for small and middle-sized companies.
Idris said more than 10,000 stands in the boarding school compound and along the street leading to the venue were fully booked.
"The presence of stands around this location is in line with the congresses mission to promote a people-oriented economy. Small and middle-sized companies must be empowered to improve the people's social welfare," he said.
Kediri Mayor Mas'ud said the NU had requested local residents actively help in making the congress a success.
"We have told people to be hospitable to all their guests and play an active role in maintaining order and security during the congress," he said.
Kediri Military District chief Lt. Col. Putut Winarno said that a total of 2,500 security personnel from the East Java provincial Police and the Brawijaya Military Command had been deployed to safeguard the congress.
"The security personnel have been deployed in and around the congress location. This number should be adequate to cover the congress," he said, adding that he hoped the congress would proceed smoothly and peacefully.
Organizing committee chairman An'im said that about 300,000 invitees, including 1,675 ulemas participating in the congress, were expected to arrive here on Saturday, a day before the congresses opening ceremony.
"A total of 306 NU branches across the country will each send a five-member delegation along with two observers. NU chapters in 26 provinces and the central board will each send 500 people in their delegations," he said.
He said that some 300 local and foreign observers were also invited to attend the congress and that approximately 400 journalists from local and foreign media were registered to cover the event.
Asked about the likely outcome of the top NU post, An'im said that this would be up to the 1,675 delegates representing 306 branches to decide.
"The principle in the election will be one branch for one vote," he said.
At least five names have been put forward as strong candidates to replace Abdurrahman -- NU scholar Said Aqil Siradj; Solahuddin Wahid, the president's younger brother; Mustofa Bisri, director of an Islamic Boarding School in Rembang, Central Java; Hasyim Muzadi, chairman of the East Java NU chapter and Fadjroel Falakh, the NU deputy chairman. (rms)