Nahdlatul Ulama and its challenges in the future

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.