'Kyai' not to enter real politics

'Kyai' not to enter real politics

From Media Indonesia

On April 29, 2001, two days prior to the plenary session of
the House of Representatives (held on May 1, 2001), kyai (Muslim
religious leaders) and throngs of supporters of President
Abdurrahman Wahid, mostly from East Java, came to Jakarta for
istighotsah (mass prayers) at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, in the
Senayan area. The large number of people involved made Jakartans
feel apprehensive.

The istighotsah purpose was to solicit God's benevolence for
the welfare of the nation, but some suspected that the hidden
intention was to foil, or at least to influence, the above
plenary session so that the memorandum of censure directed at the
President would not be issued. Thanks to the Almighty, rain fell
and the supporters were cooled down.

Currently again, prior to the special session of the People's
Consultative Assembly (scheduled for Aug. 1, 2001), approximately
5,000 Nahdlatul Ulama kyai and supporters of the President will
meet in Ashidiqiyah pesantren (Muslim boarding school) in
Tangerang, which will probably be more politically oriented as
they will be there purely to support the President.

There will certainly be discussion based on religious
references on the validity or legitimacy of "expelling" a
President half way into his tenure. It is most probable they will
pressure leaders of the political parties not to oust the
President.

Referring to Khitah 1926 (Declaration), forbidding Nahdlatul
Ulama to be involved in real politics, I am calling for "refrain
and restraint" so that kyai will remain exemplary leaders and not
confuse their grassroots supporters or the nahdliyin with
illogical statements on political issues.

Let the special session resolve the nation's problems,
because, as asserted by former coordinating minister for
political, social and security affairs, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono,
the special session is not the final destination, but it is for
finding a solution to the current crisis and hopefully to improve
the economy, social and security aspects, avoid disintegration as
well as restore Indonesia's name internationally.

To us, the common people, it does not matter who is our
president, whether it be Abdurrahman Wahid or Megawati. What
matters most is the end of the crisis and the improvement of the
overall situation and the betterment of public welfare.

H. NUR ALI BASA

Bekasi, West Java