NU faulted for political involvement
JAKARTA (JP): A group of Nadhatul Ulama (NU) Muslim preachers called on the organization to remain faithful to their commitment to work in the educational, social and religious fields and avoid delving into practical politics.
"If NU wants to return to politics then they should turn the organization into a political party as they were before in 1971," Sjukron Ma'mun said on Tuesday.
"But as the organization had agreed to quit politics they should stick to that commitment," he remarked.
Sjukron, who also heads Nadlatul Ummat Party (PNU), claimed that several Muslim preachers were concerned with statements from NU leaders that expressed political support for President Abdurrahman Wahid who was a former NU chairman.
PNU is a small party which failed to win a seat in the House of Representatives in the 1999 general election.
Sjukron remarked that several statements made by leading figures of NU defending the President were even more zealous than assertions made by the National Awakening Party which has widespread following among the NU faithful.
He claimed that Abdurrahman's uncle, Yusuf Hasyim, who heads Tebu Ireng Islamic Boarding School in East Java and Asnawi Latief from PNU were among the preachers concerned about the recent trend.
The three Muslim preachers were also known as strong critics of Abdurrahman.
"We've held a meeting and will convey the message to NU leaders as their actions and statements will confuse people at the grassroots level," Sjukron added.
He insisted that the call was simply a reminder that NU should not be caught up in the impasse faced by the political elite.
"Gus Dur should act like a real statesman and think about greater interests than his own. I told him this once but he ignored it so what more can I say," Sjukron further remarked, referring to Abdurrahman by his nickname.
In 1984 NU declared that, as an organization, they would not delve into practical politics and instead focus their work on humanitarian, educational and social activities.(dja)