Influential clerics skip PKB rally

Influential clerics skip PKB rally

SIDOARJO, East Java: Influential cleric Abdullah Faqih was
among the respected Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) ulema who missed the
rally to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the National
Awakening Party (PKB) here.

Other major absentees included Mas Subadar, Muchit Muzadi and
Idris Marzuki. The clerics, known as kyai khos, are the most
respected ulema in NU tradition. Without their blessings, PKB
founder Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid could not have run for the
presidency in 1999 which he won.

Gus Dur, who is PKB chief patron, downplayed the absence of
the clerics, saying it would not affect the relationship between
them and the party.

Faqih's son, Gus Mujab, who represented him during the
celebration said his father was teaching at his Islamic boarding
school in Tuban, 100 kilometers west of the provincial capital of
Surabaya.

Antara reported the 45,000-seat Sidoarjo sports hall near
Surabaya which hosted the celebration was not filled to capacity.

The event was held against the backdrop of the PKB defeat in
the election of East Java governor to the Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle.

Gus Dur called on the party supporters to accept the defeat
for the sake of democracy. -- Antara