Gus Dur tells Muhammadiyah, NU to increase cooperation

Gus Dur tells Muhammadiyah, NU to increase cooperation

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid urged on Saturday
the country's two largest Islamic organizations, Nahdlatul Ulama
(NU) and Muhammadiyah, to step up cooperation for the sake of the
nation.

In his speech to open the Muhammadiyah's 44th congress at
Senayan Stadium, Abdurrahman, who led the NU for 15 years until
last November, praised Muhammdiyah's contribution to the nation,
especially in the education, health and economic sectors.

The President also dismissed rumors of a dispute between the
two major religious organizations, saying Muhammadiyah and NU
were not facing any immense differences.

"We mutually appreciate our differences of views, no one
stands higher or lower than the other," Abdurrahman said in his
address to hundreds of Muhammadiyah supporters.

Also attending the opening ceremony were several Cabinet
ministers, First Lady Sinta Nuriyah, House of Representatives
Speaker Akbar Tandjung and People's Consultative Assembly Speaker
Amien Rais, who is the former Muhammadiyah chairman. He
relinquished his post after founding the National Mandate Party
(PAN) in 1998.

Amien was seated at the President's right side. After a
successful presidential campaign last October, the relationship
between the two reform leaders began to deteriorate. In the
latest twist of their bickering, Amien told Abdurrahman to stop
making statements until the Assembly's annual session in August.

Amien has also been allegedly linked to attempts to unseat
Abdurrahman, which Amien has repeatedly denied.

Concerned about the continuing spat between the two, respected
Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid urged Abdurrahman and Amien to
refrain from verbally attacking each other.

In his address to Muhammadiyah supporters on Saturday, Amien
called on the organization's members to work together to create a
new Indonesia, which he described as a country free from
collusion, corruption and nepotism practices.

Amien said he also wanted to see strict law enforcement and
equal treatment for all citizens regardless of their different
backgrounds.

"In the New Indonesia, there will be no interreligious
conflicts which have sapped our energy," Amien said. "Let us move
forward together to create a new Indonesia."

Muhammadiyah and NU claim their members are not less than 30
million and 40 million respectively.

Muhammadiyah is well known for its quality hospitals, schools
and universities. Many of its members are regarded to have better
education than NU members.

Meanwhile, acting chairman Syafi'i Maarif said Muhammadiyah
was concerned about the current political and economic
situations, which he said had yet to show significant
improvement.

As part of its concrete action to resolve the problems, he
disclosed that the congress would focus its attention on
overcoming the country's crisis, especially in the economic
sector.

"Muhammadiyah's program for empowering the economy is focused
on tackling economic difficulties in the regions," said Syafi'i,
a historian at state Yogyakarta University.

Syafi'i, who has been tipped to take the Muhammadiyah's top
post on a permanent basis, pledged to maintain the organization's
nonpartisan stance.

"I will risk my neck to make sure Muhammadiyah is not guided
toward political practices," he said.

His statement came as a response to the fact that Muhammadiyah
supported the foundation of PAN and that some Muhammadiyah
members hold posts in the party, which finished fifth in last
year's elections.

Another Muhammadiyah figure, A.M. Fatwa, who is also PAN
deputy chairman, reminded the organization's supporters of the
emotional and historical ties between the two social and
political organizations.

The main subject of the four-day congress is to elect
Muhammadiyah's new executive board. Former minister of religious
affairs Malik Fadjar and Syafi'i have been called the strongest
candidates for the chairmanship.

Amien praised the two candidates as the best persons to lead
Muhammdiyah. "If I was asked to choose one of them, I would
answer 'either one'," Amien said.

The opening ceremony was attended by not only congress
participants but also Muhammadiyah members from throughout the
country, especially Java.

The congress is being held at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah in
East Jakarta. Simultaneously, Muhammadiyah organizations for
youths and women, Nasyi'atul 'Aisyiah and Ikatan Remaja
Muhammadiyah (IRM), also held separate meetings in Asrama Haji
Pondok Gede dormitory, East Jakarta.

Muhammadiyah, one of the oldest organizations, was founded in
1912 by Oemar Said Cokroaminoto in Yogyakarta. The organization
proved it could survive the colonial era. (prb)