New NU board excludes rival of Abdurrahman
JAKARTA (JP): Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) selected members to the new board of executives, though conspicuously absent from the lineup was Abu Hasan, the strongest contender during the Moslem's organization's recent chairmanship election.
Abu, who reportedly enjoyed the government's endorsement in the recent race for NU's top spot, did not get any NU leadership seat, despite calls from various quarters to Abdurrahman that he "embrace" his opponents.
A five member electoral board that included Abdurrahman yesterday selected new members to the executive board (Tanfidzyah), to the Syuriyah (law-making body) and to Mustasyar (advisory board).
The meeting, led by Rais Aam (chairman) of Syuriyah K.H. Ilyas Ruhiat, did not result in unanimous votes for the board membership because one of the leaders, Abdul Azis from Aceh provincial chapter, refused to sign the decision.
"He took this stance because he failed in his effort to include Abu Hasan in the leadership," Abdurrahman told the press yesterday. "The other four members of the election committee agreed that they could not accept Abu Hasan."
According to Abdurrahman, known also as Gus Dur, the decision was valid because, despite his refusal to sign the decision, Abdul Azis had stated he would accept it.
"We didn't include Abu Hasan because we couldn't agree with his working style," Gus Dur said, adding that another reason for the decision was so that the leadership could "maintain its unity".
"I don't have the obligation to explain to you why the committee took that decision," he said.
Pressed by reporters, however, Gus Dur admitted that the committee decided that Abu Hasan, a businessman and NU leader in the outgoing executive board, failed to meet its three criteria.
"We have agreed that the composition of the new board should reflect changes within both NU and the society, and reflect the organization's relations with other parties, including the government," Gus Dur said.
He also said that the leadership should be held by people who are able to cooperate, and that the board be filled in such a way as to avoid creating the image that NU has become a political organization.
In the NU congress earlier this month, Abu Hasan was the "dark horse" of the Tanfidzyah chairman election. His name emerged and gained wide support, especially from chapters outside of Java, amidst reports of government officials' pressure that the congress did not re-elect Gus Dur.
Gus Dur said he believed no repercussion would occur as "NU is a mature organization and will be able to solve its own problems".
He also said that, prior to the meeting, he had held a meeting with Abu Hasan and reached an agreement to place the organization's cohesiveness above all else.
"There will be no rival executive board established (by Abu Hasan)," Abdurrahman said.
The election committee appointed Achmad Bagdja as the organization's secretary general to replace the outgoing Ichwan Sjam.
The senior ulemas who are appointed to the Mustasyar include K.H. Jusuf Hasjim, Abdurrahman's uncle and critic, K.H. Ahmad Abdul Hamid, and K.H. Munasir Ali.
The Syuriyah, which structurally is superior than Tanfidzyah, is manned by K.H. Ilyas Ruhiat and his deputy, K.H. Sahal Mahfudz. Among its Rais (chairmen) are Nahrowi A. Salam, K.H. Syafii Hadzami, K.H. Ma'ruf Amin, Tholhah Hasan and K.H. Mustofa Bisri.
Besides Abdurrahman, the Tanfidzyah is manned by NU intellectuals, including Fahmi Saefuddin -- a physician and another competitor of Abdurrahman, K.H. Wahid Zaini, Cecep Syarifuddin M.Ed, Fajrul Falah and Rozy Munir.
Secretary general Achmad Bagdja gets three deputies: Arifin Junaidi MBA, Ahmad Zabidi, and Muhyiddin Aburusman.
The treasurers of the organization are Rudi Harmawan, Ishartanto and Imam Sjafii. (swe)