Megawati and NU seek 'mutual understanding'

Megawati and NU seek 'mutual understanding'

Indra Harsaputra and I.D. Nugroho , The Jakarta Post,
Malang, East Java

Chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P)
Megawati Soekarnoputri met on Saturday with the chairman of the
largest Muslim organization, the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), and dozens
of religious leaders, or kyai, in a visit she claimed was a mere
reunion among friends.

NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi dismissed suggestions that the
leader of the ruling party and incumbent president was seeking an
alliance between the nationalists represented by her party and
the 40 million-strong NU membership.

After a private 20-minute meeting with Megawati at the Al
Hikam pesantren -- or Islamic boarding school -- here, the NU
leader said "a coalition of the nationalist PDI-P and the
religious NU only exists at the grass roots".

"So far, no specific policy exists on the relations between
the NU and the PDI-P," he added.

In the private meeting, Hasyim said, "We agreed on a common
vision, that without religious understanding one cannot achieve
nationalism and vice-versa." The grass-roots coalition "would
hopefully strengthen the agenda of nationhood, which places
priority on the people's interests".

East Java is listed by the NU, the PDI-P and other major
parties as a stronghold. The campaign for the 1999 general
elections saw a number of violent incidents involving local
members of different Islam-oriented parties. The PDI-P won 33.8
percent of votes in 1999.

Party executives have expressed an intention to designate a
retired military officer or Muslim leader as Megawati's running
mate for the July 5 presidential election.

PDI-P deputy secretary-general Pramono Anung Wibowo said on
Saturday that Hasyim was among those being considered by the
party as a possible partner to Megawati in the country's first
direct presidential election. "But we have yet to ask him about
it," he said.

Before meeting Hasyim, Megawati addressed a gathering of 41
East Java pesantren leaders at Al Hikam for 30 minutes, including
Fawaid Asa`d from Situbondo, Asroni Al-Ishaqi from Surabaya,
Abdullah Schal from Madura and Habib Sholeh Al-Idrus from Malang.

"I always have time to meet Pak Hasyim," Megawati said to the
applause of the kyai. The meeting was one "among friends", said
Megawati, who was accompanied by party dignitaries and a number
of Cabinet ministers.

Meanwhile, hundreds of students held a demonstration
protesting Megawati's "anti-poor" policies. A scuffle erupted
between police and the students who were trying to stop the
President's motorcade, and the rally was dispersed.

"We must remind people against being susceptible to the
grandiose name of Megawati," a student said.

Last week, the leadership of the second largest Islamic
organization, the Muhammadiyah, said it would nominate former
chairman Amien Rais for the presidency, to the outrage of its own
executives and affiliated organizations.

Hasyim said anyone from the NU supporting Amien's presidential
bid would be representing their individual beliefs, not the NU's.

In 1999, the NU founded the National Awakening Party (PKB)
ahead of the polls. The PKB, like Amien's National Mandate Party
(PAN), claims to be a Muslim-based, inclusive party.