Gus Dur and clerics in dispute over PKB's reshuffle

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.