Govt not to interfere in NU congress

JAKARTA (JP): The government promised the 34 million members of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) yesterday that it would not interfere in the organization's congress next month.

"We will give them (NU members) freedom to organize their congress and elect their new chairman," Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Soesilo Soedarman told journalists after a meeting with ministers and top officials under his coordination.

NU, the largest socio-educational Moslem organization in the country, will hold its 29th congress from Dec. 1 to Dec. 5 in Tasikmalaya, West Java.

The election of a new chairman has stolen the spotlight from the debate concerning whether NU would play formal politics again and whether the government would meddle in the formation of the new executive board.

Its incumbent chairman Abdurrahman Wahid, better known as Gus Dur, appears to have the support needed to retain his post for another four year, even though his ideas are often considered "too progressive" by the generally conservative NU members.

Saying that the government would support any chairman elected by the congress, Soesilo emphasized that the government would let NU decide anything freely in the congress.

Soesilo denied allegations that Gus Dur had lost the government's favor because of his outspokenness.

"Gus Dur himself has said it was not true that the government did not like him" he said, referring to Gus Dur's statement in Forum Keadilan magazine.

Commenting on Gus Dur's recent visit to Israel, Soesilo said that Gus Dur certainly must have thought the visit over thoroughly before he left, he said.

Gus Dur's visit to Israel had sparked protests from some NU members, who objected not only the tour but also his proposal that Indonesia open diplomatic ties with the Jewish state.

Support

He has the support of numerous NU chapters in Central and East Java, which represent the organization's strongest bases.

He expected that NU, as an old organization, would be "mature" enough to be able to handle any problem that might emerge during the congress.

Soesilo was the latest senior government official who promised non-interference in the congress that will bring together scores of NU leaders from across the country.

Earlier, chief of the socio-political affairs department of the Armed Forces Lt. Gen. R. Hartono and Spokesman for the Armed Forces Brig. Gen. Syarwan Hamid had voiced the same assurance.

Defense and Security Minister Gen. (ret) Edi Sudrajat has said that he wants to see NU strong and independent. (sim)