Gus Dur and clerics in dispute over PKB's reshuffle
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Friction between former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid and influential clerics from the largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) broke into open conflict following the clerics' opposition to a decision to suspend Syaifullah Yusuf from his post as secretary general of the National Awakening Party (PKB).
The clerics, who filed their complaint in a letter sent on Tuesday to PKB headquarters and its regional chapters nationwide, also said that the reshuffle among PKB executives "will hamper the party's internal solidarity in before next year's elections."
They further criticized the party's leadership, which, in their opinion was "too centralized" and that caused difficulties for NU followers to channel their aspirations.
"After holding plenary meetings in several towns in East Java, including Lirboyo, Jember, Kajen, and Rembang, the clerics said that NU followers would likely have difficulty expressing their political aspirations to PKB in the next general elections because of its poor leadership.
"The party's management is just too centralized and far from being professional, giving us a warning whether PKB will be able to compete with other parties in the 2004 elections," NU deputy secretary general Masduki Baidlawi told the press conference held at the NU headquarters in Central Jakarta on Tuesday.
The clerics sent their letter to address the current internal dispute in the party. PKB is known as a political party with strong support from NU clerics and supporters.
The new internal friction surfaced after PKB's advisory body voted to suspend Syaifullah for alleged violations of the party's policies. It replaced him with Muhyidin Arubusman, the incumbent NU secretary-general, in a meeting presided over by Gus Dur as PKB chief patron.
Several party executives, including former minister of defense Mahfud MD and Cholil Bisri, rejected the decision which they called baseless, but Gus Dur insisted on removing Syaifullah, better known as Gus Ipul, from his position.
Due to the deadlock, Syaifullah and his supporters left the matter to NU as the organization essentially spawned the party.
Even though the letter was signed only by NU's law making body (Syuria) chief Sahal Mahfudh and NU Chairman Hasyim Muzadi, several influential NU clerics called Kyai Langitan such as Abdullah Faqih, Abdurrahman Chudlori, Muhaiminan Gunardo, Idris Marzuqi and Mas Subadar, attended the plenary meetings.
"With the position stated by many kyai, we wish to return to normal relations between Gus Dur and the clerics, which began deteriorating long ago because of Gus Dur's behavior.
"Kyai are not Gus Dur's subordinates," Masduki asserted.
When asked whether the clerics would call on NU followers to vote for other political parties instead of PKB if Gus Dur refused to change his decision, Masduki said: "It is possible because some have already talked about the move."
NU is also known as an Islamic organization which develops traditional relationship between clerics and followers. Senior NU clerics hold prominent roles in influencing the way the 40 million followers vote.