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)