Nahdlatul Ulama begins final preparations for congress

Nahdlatul Ulama begins final preparations for congress

BAGU, West Nusa Tenggara (JP): The Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Moslem
organization began final preparations for its congress here
yesterday against the backdrop of activities held by NU rival
factions.

Koranic readings were held by the rival faction yesterday
evening throughout the island of Lombok. But these activities
failed to divert attention away from preparations of proceedings
due to be held by the official NU executives under the leadership
of Abdurrahman Wahid.

The NU are due to begin a five-day meeting and congress in
Bagu, Central Lombok.

The congress will cover a wide range of issues including the
application of religious laws in various modern settings.

According to Mukhlis Ibrahim, head of the Ishlahuddin
religious school here, topics to be discussed include cloning,
democratization laws and marital issues.

NU deputy secretary general Muhidin Ambusman said experts from
various fields of discipline will also take part in the meetings
and provide various recommendations.

But much of the attention in the countdown to the start of the
meeting yesterday was the rival faction's activities.

Abdurrahman's leadership of the 30-million grassroots
organization has been challenged by Abu Hasan who has set up his
own rival executive board.

The government has for the most part kept out of NU's internal
affairs and acknowledged only Abdurrahman's board.

Abdurrahman arrived in the provincial capital of Mataram
yesterday afternoon.

His meeting with Governor Warsito was just a courtesy call, he
said.

Governor Warsito said he knew nothing of the activities of the
rival NU board in his province. "I really don't know. Maybe they
got permission from the police chief."

The meeting will be opened today by Minister of Religious
Affairs Tarmizi Taher. (43/imn)