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)