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.