Gus Dur and Tutut to appear at NU gathering

JAKARTA (JP): The leaders of Indonesia's largest Moslem organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), defended yesterday their chairman's decision to invite the deputy chairwoman of Golkar, Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, to appear with him at a NU gathering next week.

Muchit Muzadi and Fuad Anwar of the NU's East Java chapter told Antara in Surabaya that chairman Abdurrahman Wahid was not violating the organization's mission -- of limiting itself to socioreligious matters -- by being "close" with Hardiyanti Rukmana or the ousted chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), Megawati Soekarnoputri.

"The organization's mission is to have no affiliations with any grouping. The translation of this mission is flexible and can be adjusted to life's dynamics," Muzadi said.

Abdurrahman, better known as Gus Dur, will address 10,000 NU members in Sidoarjo, East Java, on April 2 with Hardiyanti, who is better known as Mbak (sister) Tutut.

Abdurrahman's recent closeness with Hardiyanti has caused speculation because only last year he was said to have formed a political entente with Megawati, who was under fire from party rivals and the government.

"The term unaffiliated can be seen as not having any relations with any party, or having good relations with all parties," Muzadi said.

Muzadi defended Abdurrahman's plan to travel with Hardiyanti to several pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) run by the NU in East Java.

"That's a short term tactic," Muzadi said. "But it's a part of Gus Dur's long-term tactics, meaning that the general elections should eventually give birth to an accommodating legislature, rather than the loss or victory of either Golkar, PDI or PPP (United Development Party)," he said.

Fuad confirmed the NU gathering would take place next Tuesday, and that the NU was the event's sole organizer. "Gus Dur has threatened to back out completely if any other parties try to meddle," he said.

"Mbak Tutut will be here with us to welcome Idul Adha (Islamic Sacrifice Day). Besides, she's scheduled to travel to East Java between April 1 and 3," Fuad said.

Idul Adha falls on April 18 this year.

Hardiyanti, the eldest daughter of President Soeharto, will visit Pasuruan, Jember and Lumajang in East Java.

Fuad said Abdurrahman had confirmed that Army Chief of Staff Gen. R. Hartono and State Minister of Population Haryono Suyono, also of a Golkar leader, would attend the gathering.

East Java Governor Basofi Soedirman and the chief of the Brawijaya regional military command, Maj. Gen. Imam Utomo, have promised to help transport NU members. (swe)