Hasyim denies mass prayer link with Gus Dur

Hasyim denies mass prayer link with Gus Dur

MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman
Hasyim Muzadi denied on Sunday allegations that mass prayers held
by the country's largest Muslim organization recently were aimed
at extending support for President Abdurrahman Wahid.

"These Istighotsah Kubro prayers are not aimed at maintaining
Gus Dur's presidency but rather to ask for God's blessing so we
can cope with the country's crises," Hasyim said here, referring
to Abdurrahman by his nickname.

Hasyim claimed that such a practice had been common in the
past even before Abdurrahman was elected as President.

"We used to do it on a somewhat smaller scale in the evening,
but then one of the NU kyai (clerics) told us that the various
recent conflicts and disputes in this country are signs from
heaven that the time has come for all people to seek His
forgiveness," said Hasyim on the sidelines of a mass prayer
gathering of 10,000 people at the Benteng field here.

Hasyim said that since President Abdurrahman shoulders the
biggest responsibility in solving the country's problems, it is
essential for him to be spiritually supported.

Abdurrahman chaired NU for 15 years before he won the
presidential post last October. He attended Saturday's mass
prayer jointly organized by the NU and the Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle in Jakarta.

Another NU gathering was held in Semarang on Sunday, when some
30,000 people led by dozens of influential Muslim clerics
thronged the Purwodadi Square to pray for the nation's safety and
an end to disputes among the members of the political elites.

"This mass prayer is part of the spiritual struggle to
overcome the country's political and economic turmoil," said
Masyhud Choironi, the chairman of the event organizing committee.

"People are tired with this 'never ending' conflict."

"The members of the elite seem to get along well enough at
this kind of ceremony but after the prayer is over, they start
fighting each other again," Masyhud said.

Also attending the gathering was Sahal Mahfudz, the chairman
of NU's Syuriah law-making body and who is also the newly elected
chief of the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI).

"We sincerely wish that all the nation's leaders stick to
their commitment to building this already-fractured country and
stop making political moves that will end up hurting the common
people," Sahal said.

Earlier on Saturday, around 2,000 NU followers gathered at the
Mlangi Islamic boarding school in Sleman regency, 10 kilometers
north of Yogyakarta. The prayer was led by senior cleric Muchtar
Dawam.

"We pray for national unity and strength for the sake of Gus
Dur's administration," said chairman of the Yogyakarta chapter of
the National Awakening Party (PKB) Ali As'ad, who attended the
gathering.

He added that thousands of members of the NU's civilian guard
Banser are ready to defend Abdurrahman if there is any effort to
unseat him.

"I understand that Gus Dur is not perfect but it is legally
unconstitutional to topple him," Ali remarked.

Abdurrahman is expected to face his toughest test at the
upcoming Annual General Session of the People's Consultative
Assembly (MPR) slated to take place from Aug. 7 to Aug. 18.

The fall of former president Soeharto in May 1998 has left the
current administration with a mountain of problems, such as the
long-running separatist movements in Irian Jaya and Aceh and
sectarian conflicts in Maluku and other parts of the country.

Abdurrahman's government has also been plagued by serious
economic problems and political disputes which could lead to a
no-confidence motion being filed by MPR members against him.
(39/44/har/edt)