Nahdlatul Ulama and its challenges in the future
By MMI Ahyani
TASIKMALAYA, West Java (JP): In the organizational mechanism of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Rois 'Am Syuriah (chairman of the Central Governing Board's law-making body), is a key position of no less significant than the position of chairman of the Tanfidziah (executive board) himself.
However, KH Ilyas Ruchiyat, who has this position, has kept a low profile, so his name is not as famous as Abdurrahman Wahid, popularly known as Gus Dur, who is chairman of the executive board.
Ilyas, patron of Cipasung Islamic boarding school in Singaparna, 20 kilometers from here, looks fit despite his age. The 65-year-old clergyman also travels frequently to Jakarta, Bandung and other cities.
He had just arrived from Jakarta when The Jakarta Post met him at his boarding school.
In the interview, he anticipated the challenges to be faced by the NU in the future, which include mounting calls on the review of the Khittah (initial commitment not to get involved in politics) as stipulated by its founding fathers in 1926.
However, in its course, the NU left that commitment. It was in its 1984 congress in Situbond, East Java, that the organization decided to return to its Khittah.
Now, as many NU members play in politics by, among other things, being members or activists of political parties, the call to review the Khittah is escalating.
"We will have bigger challenges. The image of the organization, its cadres, ulemas and all Muslims is at stake with Gus Dur elected as President. If he fails, our image will also be tarnished," he said. "Thus, no one will let Gus Dur walk and work alone."
The following are excerpts of an interview ahead of the 30th NU Congress scheduled to be opened on Nov. 21 at Lirboyo, Kediri, East Java.
Question: At 30th NU congress to be held in Lirboyo between Nov. 21 and Nov. 27, what will be the main agenda of discussion?
Answer: There has been a lot of input from various activities, seminars, workshops and discussions, held in Islamic boarding schools and campuses and among board members of the NU at the central or regional levels. The topics are varied, such as the mechanism of the establishment of future governments, the role of women leaders, educational programs, intelligence-developing programs and even a desire to review the Khittah.
The branches and some executive boards can also come up with many topics to be discussed at the upcoming congress, for example economic empowerment, cooperatives, welfare, vocational education, including political education. The NU also has its think-tank and research and development institute called RMI. Besides, there is also input from intellectuals, observers and individuals who pay a great deal of attention to the NU. It is the job of the organizing committee to break down the various inputs and categorize them according to the priority of discussion during the upcoming congress.
Q: What about Khittah NU itself, because the present political condition is much different from the past. Today, the NU plays a significant role because Gus Dur is President while many NU cadres are members of the House of Representatives. Many parties would like to have this matter discussed so that the NU can again take part in the political arena...
A: I have also heard about this. Following the ongoing political changes and with the establishment of a new administration, many quarters have suggested that the NU should review its Khittah, which was reintroduced in 1984 in Situbondo. Meanwhile, many NU cadres have set up political parties. As for myself, I cannot say anything about this. Let's now return everything to what was decided in Situbondo.
Q: Does this mean that the NU itself is ready if it is required to review its Khittah?
A: As I have said, just leave it to the congress. In principle, the NU will continue to be active in original fields, like education, Islamic propagation and social affairs. If later it is deemed necessary to discuss this matter, and if congress participants would not mind, everything will be OK.
Q: What about the election of Gus Dur as president? What attitude will the NU adopt, particularly with regard to the mechanism of control of his administration because it is closely linked with the image of the NU?
A: The NU will remain within the confines of its own areas of activities. That its general chairman has been elected President is a mandate which must be exercised. In the NU itself, there are ideas, particularly among some ulemas, to give criticism and input to Gus Dur. Gus Dur will never be allowed to take his own course.
Q: What mechanism will be employed, because this kind of control is extraconstitutional in nature?
A: A team has been set up and it is assigned to provide input directly to Gus Dur through existing channels. Of course, these ulemas have their own channel to the President.
Q: How can the NU continue to be critical toward Gus Dur and his administration?
A: We'll continue to provide Gus Dur with constructive input through criticism and correction. Several days ago, clergymen associated in the Langitan Forum gave Gus Dur this type of input.
Q: Have they also given him any input about his idea to establish trade relations with Israel, or the threat of national disintegration and so forth?
A: The NU does not attach special importance to the problem of Israel and the like. The NU is concerned with problems now evolving in the community. I think this will also be discussed in the congress. About the threat of disintegration in Aceh, Maluku and other regions, the congress, God willing, will issue its recommendation to the government.
Q: The NU's West Java regional executive board wants the congress to discuss relations with Israel.
A: I think all regional and branch executive boards have the right to propose any program.
Q: To date, NU congresses have tried to stick to democratic principles due to intervention from the authorities. Will the upcoming congress be able to maintain this tradition considering Gus Dur is now at the at the helm of the nation?
A: This fact will, in a way, affect the congress. It means that it will bring in a fresh atmosphere because NU cadres will, for the first time, be proud that one of them is the President of the Republic of Indonesia. And then, will Gus Dur play a role here? As far as he gives constructive proposals, they may be taken as input. The fact that Gus Dur is now the President may save the congress from being subjected to interventions.
Q: What about the role of the "blue blood" group? There have been reports that a chairman of the policy-making board or executive must be a "blue blood" because it has been a tradition?
A: Just leave it to the congress.
Q: Will you be ready to be nominated?
A: I'll leave it to the congress.
Q: What about the names of candidates such as Said Agil Siradj, Fadjrul Falah, Hasyim Muzadi, Muhammad Iskandar, Hafidz Usman and Ahmad Bagja?
A: I believe the activities of these people in the NU are known to the public. About who will be the most suitable for the position of chairman, the congress participants will decide.
Q: The main challenges of NU in future?
A: They are the challenges to be encountered by the nation. In education, how to improve the intelligence of our children, including efforts to prevent our people from being charmed by prohibited things such as narcotics and drug abuse, uncivilized behavior and other problems not conducive to the improvement of character and intelligence. Therefore, since its inception, up to the time when the NU was involved in politics, it has tried to establish physical facilities in the hope of being able to produce a generation fitting the aspirations of the NU.