Internal NU split widens as Hasyim endorsed VP

Internal NU split widens as Hasyim endorsed VP

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The split in Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) ranks widened on Friday after
the central board of the country's largest Muslim organization
gave its blessing to NU leader Hasyim Muzadi to contest the
presidential race.

"We permit NU leader Hasyim Muzadi to take a stance on current
political developments, including offers for him to run for
president or vice president in the upcoming election," his deputy
Ahmad Bagdja said.

Hasyim has been touted as a possible running mate of President
Megawati Soekarnoputri and other hopefuls in the July 5 election
presidential election.

The support for Hasyim's bid came just two days after
influential NU clerics, or Kyai Khos, reaffirmed their
endorsement for the nomination of Hasyim's predecessor, former
president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, as their presidential
candidate.

The noted clerics -- including Abdullah Faqih, Abdullah Abbas
and Fachruddin Masturo -- met in Lombok on Wednesday. They also
gave Gus Dur a mandate to select his running mate.

The National Awakening Party (PKB), founded by the NU, also
nominated Gus Dur for the presidency and plans a plenary meeting
on April 25 to select his running mate.

It is unlikely Gus Dur will pair up with Hasyim as the
relationship between the two has been strained for months due to
their differing political views.

The support for Hasyim was decided in an NU plenary session
attended by influential members of its law-making body (syuriah)
and executive board (tanfidziah), including Sahal Mahfudz, Gus
Dur's younger brother Solahuddin Wahid, Mustofa "Gus Mus" Bisri
and scholar Masdar F. Mas'udi.

Bagdja declined to reveal which parties had offered
candidacies to Hasyim, who did not attend the announcement.

Apparently responding to the Kyai Khos meeting, Bagdja said
his 40 million-strong organization would allow other figures to
compete in the direct presidential election as individuals,
although they would not have the NU's official stamp of approval.

From Friday, the NU would no longer recognize the legitimacy
of the Kyai Khos as such a term "has only created polarization
among NU ulema," Bagdja said.

Any forum held by ulema without the endorsement of the NU
central board should be considered merely "a gathering" and the
conclusions it made would not bind the organization, he said.

"We wanted to clarify that the NU had never nominated Gus Dur
for the president (in 1999) but had just allowed him to compete
for the position if the country needed him. Now we are granting a
similar right to Hasyim in his capacity as NU leader," Bagdja
said.

The PKB has authorized the near-blind Gus Dur to appoint an
alternative candidate to take his place in case he is prevented
from contesting the presidency due to his physical disabilities.

Meanwhile, Golkar Party leader Akbar Tandjung hinted at a
possible coalition with the PKB in the presidential election --
on the condition Gus Dur agreed not to run for president.

PKB deputy Mahfud MD has been quoted by Antara as saying a
"certain party" offered the PKB a vice presidential post and five
ministerial positions should the PKB back its presidential
candidate.