Gus Dur and Tutut to appear at NU gathering
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)