Gus Dur's growing influence led to Habibie move

Gus Dur's growing influence led to Habibie move

SEMARANG (JP): State Minister for Research and Technology B.J. Habibie's request that Abdurrahman Wahid quit the chairmanship of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Moslem organization was made out of fear of the latter's growing influence, says a political observer.

Arief Budiman, a former professor of sociology at the Satya Wacana Christian University in Salatiga, said yesterday that the request might have also been spurred by Abdurrahman's refusal to join the Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI), which Habibie chairs.

"The request was understandable," Arief told The Jakarta Post. "Habibie has been an opponent of Abdurrahman all along."

In fact, "it would have been strange if Habibie didn't (ask) because...he feared Abdurrahman's power," he said.

Arief pointed out that Abdurrahman, better known as Gus Dur, leads an organization of 30 million members whose influence is great and reaches out far to remote villages. He also said that the request "was not a tactical thing to do. Habibie shouldn't have done it," he said.

Moreover, Habibie's move was proof that the government has been meddling in the internal affairs of the organization, which, actually, has been quite independent so far, Arief said.

Arief explained that Habibie probably wanted to see Abdurrahman and NU followers join ICMI, expecting the association to become even more powerful and its membership grow.

Abdurrahman refused and has often displayed his dislike of the association. He is known as one of the staunchest critics of ICMI, even at the earliest stage of the inception of the association which has since become very close to those in power.

"It's probably this refusal which triggered Habibie's fear, especially because Gus Dur has charisma...and the support of both young and senior intellectuals," Arief said.

Habibie last year requested that Abdurrahman resign, but the public was only made aware of it after Abdurrahman himself recently released the information. On Tuesday, Habibie confirmed that he did make the request, believing that it would be better for NU if Abdurrahman resigned.

Soetjipto Wirosardjono, a member of Habibie's staff who delivered the request to Abdurrahman, had said that his mission was justified because the current conflict within NU has strained its communication with the government.

Abdurrahman has for the past year had to contend with growing dissension within NU. Earlier this month Abu Hasan, who lost the chairmanship election to Abdurrahman in the 1994 congress, set up a rival board in Jakarta.

Arief, however, believed that the friction within NU might have arisen from some internal changes.

"There's a transition of thoughts, from one generation in NU to the next, occurring within NU. There's also a difference among groups within the organization," he said.

The peak of the transformation process was reached in the late 1980s with the emergence of a group of NU members with political leanings, as opposed to those who wanted to see NU more as a cultural movement.

Arief reminded everyone that it was more important that the massive organization endures and benefits the whole nation, and that it retains its independence. "This independence can help the organization withstand the rush of globalization," he said.

Arief also told NU leaders and members to continuously engage in introspection and hold dialog with various elements within and outside the organization. "That way, it wouldn't have to dependent on anyone," he said.

KH Moeslim Rifai Imampuro, an important NU leader in Central Java, also lent his support to Abdurrahman Wahid. Moeslim, who is better known as Mbah (Grandpa) Liem as well as the spiritual advisor of Abdurrahman, said the NU chairman was not after power or position.

"He is only concerned about how the organization can benefit the nation," he said. "I'm with him." (har/swe)