Gus Dur to retain to position at NU, scholar predicts

JAKARTA (JP): Respected political observer Afan Gaffar predicts that Abdurrahman Wahid will retain his post as chief of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) despite his controversial leadership style.

The outspoken scholar from the Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University said that Gus Dur, as Abdurrahman is better known, has garnered the support of influential Moslem leaders in Central and East Java, NU's strongest basis.

"Gus Dur has strong support from many branches, especially in Central and East Java," he said. "Although he is controversial, he will be able to win the most support in the congress."

Afan said that if Gus Dur is re-elected, he should maintain Ilyas Ruchiyat, as his closest adviser, to help him strengthen his position which is often undermined by his own controversial statements.

His contenders are Cholid Mawardi, Sahal Mahfudz, Idham Chalid and Fahmi D. Saefuddin Zuhri and A. Mustofa Bisri. All but Idham Chalid, who is a former chairman of the State Supervisory Board, are little known to the general public.

Meanwhile, more organizations and individuals swung their support behind re-electing Abdurrahman Wahid last week as its upcoming congress draws near.

"NU still needs him. But it is up to the congress to re-elect or not to re-elect him," said Bisri Amin, a top NU leader in Cirebon, West Java, on Saturday.

The congress to take place from Dec. 1 through 5 in Tasikmalaya, West Java, will also elect other members of the executive board and will adopt the organization's working programs for the coming five years.

Although his ideas often spark controversy, Gus Dur never deviates from the organization's basic principles and he pays serious attention to the economic well-being of NU members, Bisri said.

Under Gus Dur, NU made a breakthrough when it began cooperating with the privately-run Bank Summa to start People's Credit Bank (BPR). But following the bankruptcy of Bank Summa in 1992, the project has not run as expected.

"Thanks to Gus Dur, NU is well-known overseas. Although he often has strange ideas, he is always able to come up with acceptable reasoning," Bisri said.

Controversy

Gus Dur's latest controversy was his proposal that the Indonesian government establish diplomatic relations with Israel after his visit to the Jewish state.

His statement was met with condemnation from less "progressive" Moslems leaders who fiercely believe that diplomatic ties with Israel won't be possible until the Palestinian problem is resolved.

In the East Java capital of Surabaya, more than 30,000 NU members reportedly rallied in support of Gus Dur, who had been on the NU helm for a decade.

Chief of the East Java chapter of NU Hasyim Muzadi, who led the rally, said that Gus Dur was able to maintain unity among organization members.

In East Java, support for Gus Dur also came from Fawaid As'ad, a prominent ulema and a son of As'ad Syamsul Arifin, one of Abdurrahman's critics, Antara reported.

Fawaid said that Gus Dur was "fairly successful" but needed close guidance from senior ulemas so that he would not be "derailed" from NU principles.

At the Cipasung Islamic boarding school in Cipasung village, Tasikmalaya, where the congress will take place, committee members are working around the clock to make the final preparations.

The committee will have 150 medical personnel and six ambulances. The school has been sterilized to prevent dengue fever, which is prevalent in the general area, said Mustaqim from the local health office. (pan)