Govt not to interfere in NU congress
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)