'Kyai' defend Gus Dur

'Kyai' defend Gus Dur

From Republika

In Magelang hundreds of kyai (Islamic teachers) of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) objected to the possibility of Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid being stripped of his presidency in the special session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR). Hasyim Muzadi who was a speaker at a seminar in Jakarta said the special session was not going to solve problems; dialog, negotiation and compromise among the political parties was more important.

In Republika's issue of May 23, 2001, page 18, Kyai Muhammad Ki Badar, an East Java NU figure, threatened to declare East Java an independent state if Abdurrahman Wahid was ousted from the presidency in the special session.

A question worth raising is: Why do the NU kyai stubbornly defend Abdurrahman? Won't it be enough to leave that to the National Awakening Party (PKB) politicians to do. How is it that NU, which is only supposed to be involved in social activities, has become trapped in practical political affairs?

NU figures want dialog, negotiation and compromise between the political elite to end the protracted economic crisis. The MPR is the official channel for this, isn't it?

The threat of declaring East Java an independent state is far-fetched. Remember, East Java is not owned by NU and that the winner of the 1999 general election is the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan). NU cannot be equated to the National Awakening Party. There are also NU members in the United Development Party (PPP), the Golkar Party, PDI Perjuangan, etc.

I was born and raised in Surabaya among NU followers. I regret NU's involvement in practical politics and consider this a setback for NU as it blurs its objectives.

S. ANSHORY

Jakarta