Flying Dutch trip to NU 'pesantren'

Flying Dutch trip to NU 'pesantren'

SURABAYA: Local Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) leaders have agreed to
meet with a delegation of Dutch church leaders interested in the
socio-educational organization's Islamic boarding schools.

Hasyim Muzadi, chairman of the East Java NU chapter, said
yesterday he would meet with the Dutch delegation on Feb. 1 at
his well-known pesantren (boarding school) Al-Hikam in Malang.

The meeting was arranged by the Gereja Kristen Jawi Wetan
(East Java Christian Church), whose officials discussed the plan
with NU leaders last week.

Hasyim said he did not know exactly what the NU and the church
leaders would discuss but he expected it would be the
relationship between the 30-million strong organization and the
church.

"Maybe they can contribute ideas on how to improve relations
so that events, such as the recent social unrest, will not happen
again" he said as quoted by Antara.

A religiously-motivated riot broke out in the East Java town
of Situbondo and its surrounding areas last October in which 25
churches were set ablaze or damaged.

The Pesantren Al-Hikam is popular with American and European
academics doing research on Islam in Indonesia. (pan)