Gus Dur faces stiff contest in NU election

Gus Dur faces stiff contest in NU election

By Santi WE Soekanto and Petty Prihartini

TASIKMALAYA, West Java (JP): Re-election of the charismatic
leader of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Abdurrahman Wahid, is by no means
certain, despite strong support showed by organization's branch
offices.

As the congress of the largest Moslem organization entered its
second day, speculations as to who will win the executive board's
chairmanship grew.

Some of the 26 branch offices told a plenary meeting that they
were satisfied with the accountability speech given by the
incumbent Abdurrahman, popularly known as Gus Dur.

Praise of his leadership was signaled with loud applause from
participating ulemas, creating the impression that Gus Dur would
likely snatch the coveted seat.

Outside the meeting room, however, a number of NU leaders
displayed downright opposition to his re-election.

NU leading politician K.H. Yusuf Hasyim, who is also Gus Dur's
uncle, assembled journalists to state his displeasure with nephew
and to throw his support behind other candidates.

So far, the several names that have been circulating as
possible candidates to contest Gus Dur include Dr. Fahmi
Syaifuddin, a Johns Hopkins University medical school graduate;
K.H. Abdul Wahid Zaini -- an unassuming ulema who chairs the
association of NU's 6,000 boarding schools (pesantren); Abu Hasan
MA, a leading member of NU and a businessman; and Chalid Mawardi,
a member of the Supreme Advisory Council and NU politician.

"Gus Dur has been walking alone, he and all his ideas,
activities and connections," Yusuf Hasyim said. "He's practically
an institution unto himself. If he remains within NU, then the
organization will lose out."

"He should make way for other people to hold the leadership.
He's just too strong for this organization," Yusuf added.

Yusuf clearly stated his preference for Wahid Zaini or Fahmi.
The two men, he told a reporter from BBC London, will be able to
bridge the aspirations of NU members, most of whom live in rural
areas, with the organization's programs.

"Gus Dur claimed he wants the top seat in order to save the
organization from the grip of politicians .. but he himself is a
very political man," Yusuf continued his attack. "He's even more
political than Chalid Mawardi."

Yusuf cleared himself from speculations that he has his eyes
trained to the leadership, saying that he had already requested
the current acting chairman of Syuriyah, K.H. Ilyas Ruhiat, that
he be excluded from the coming leadership.

"I'm tired and old and this kind of job requires high
mobility," he told The Jakarta Post. "I just hope that the coming
NU leaders will be more responsive toward the aspirations of NU
members in the regions."

However, several observers to the congress, including Japanese
anthropologist Mitsuo Nakamura and Dutch observer Dr. Martin van
Bruisen, said NU still needs Gus Dur in order to be able to face
future challenges.

Van Bruisen said the next NU chairman will bear the greatest
responsibility of seeing the organization through a period of
important political transformation.

"His role would be to see that his members are protected from
various currents of political interests," he said. "This chairman
will need to be able to converse with every layer of
society...only Gus Dur fits the bill."

No intention

Despite speculations that the government may not be too
pleased with him, Gus Dur himself did not show any intention to
back off from his chairmanship bid.

The kyai famous for his controversial moves, including his
recent visit to Israel, even presented a scenario which sees him
as leading the Syuriyah (law-making body) and another person as a
leader of the executive board. He specifically named Fahmi as his
partner.

"Don't pit me against Fahmi," he said. "If NU sees him as the
fittest man to lead it, I'll be the happiest person for him."

"That (if Fahmi is elected) means, (the situation) I have been
wishing for will be realized...If I get the post at the Syuriyah,
then he can lead the Tanfidzyah...isn't it good?"

However, "even if I'm not elected (to lead Syuriyah), that's
okay, too," he added. "I trust Fahmi completely."

Gus Dur named K.H. Mustofa Bisri, a kyai with strong artistic
inclination and well-known for his poems, as an alternative
figure.

Soen'an Hadi Poernomo, an expert at the center for human
resource development in NU, sees the Wahid-Fahmi scenario as the
most workable solution for the organization which has often been
criticized for poor management.

"As a leader, Gus Dur is okay, but he is a poor manager.
Fahmi, who chairs NU center for human resource development, is a
better manager ," Poernomo said.

"This organization needs someone who can better translate its
programs in the coming five years...it needs leaders who can
improve its members' welfare."

Poernomo said Fahmi and Gus Dur will compliment one another in
leading NU. "So, this organization should not have to choose
between Fahmi or Gus Dur, but take them both," he said.

Gen. Feisal -- Page 2