NU keeps Pancasila as its legal basis

NU keeps Pancasila as its legal basis

KEDIRI, East Java (JP): After heated committee debates at the
national congress, the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) decided on Wednesday
to retain Pancasila as its legal basis.

Hafids Utsman, chairman of the congress' commission for
organizational matters, claimed the final decision won support
from a majority of commission members.

"This decision is in line with the 1999 Political Parties and
Mass Organizations Law. NU has no other alternative than to
comply with the law," he said.

Several delegations during the commission meeting questioned
the organization's legal basis and proposed a change from
Pancasila to Islam.

Utsman said NU accepted the 1945 Constitution and Pancasila as
the country's philosophical basis because it recognized religious
rights and guaranteed the right for individuals to perform their
respective faiths.

"Indonesia is unique because it's neither a secular nor a
theocratic state. Because of the guarantees on freedom of
worship, NU accepts the constitution and Pancasila ... NU will
never use Islam to oppose the state," he said.

Utsman said his commission also called on the next NU chairman
to appoint ulemas from outside of Java to end Javanese ulemas'
domination on the organization's executive board.

He acknowledged the practice was not fair, arguing that ulemas
outside the island should be also included to maintain unity.

A number of delegations have called for the selection of non-
Javanese ulemas in the next executive board.

Asked about gender controversy at the congress, Utsman said
his commission had agreed on the need for equality, and that
women should also be accorded the same opportunity to lead the
organization.

"Besides having its own women's organization, Muslimat NU ...
We hope the next NU chairman will also include women in the next
executive board," he said.

Meanwhile, Azis Mashuri, chairman of the commission for
deliberating factual matters, said his commission decided to
allow Muslims to farm crickets and earthworms for business and
medical purposes.

"Our commission makes clear that according to Islamic fiqih,
cricket and earthworm farming for economic and medical purposes
is legal and allowable," he said, referring to long-running
disputes about the activities.

Singapore and Japan are the primary markets for crickets and
earthworms. Earthworms are also farmed for traditional medicines.
(rms)