NU leaders accept Gus Dur's presidential bid

NU leaders accept Gus Dur's presidential bid

JAKARTA (JP): Influential Muslim leaders signaled their
approval of Abdurrahman Wahid's presidential candidacy on
Tuesday, although they fell short of openly supporting his bid
for the country's top post.

The leaders of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the country's largest
Muslim organization, which Abdurrahman chairs, said in a
statement they were not supporting the candidacy of Abdurrahman,
better known as Gus Dur.

"The term is 'not supporting' (his candidacy)," the chairman
of NU's law-making body, Kyai (religious teacher/leader) Ilyas
Ruchiyat, said here.

Reading from the statement the NU leaders drafted after hours
of meetings which began on Monday, he said: "NU's executive board
expresses our gratitude and appreciation for the measures taken
by KH Abdurrahman Wahid ... to uphold democracy and
simultaneously maintain the safety of well-being of the nation,
including his willingness to be nominated for the presidency."

Upholding democracy "in the search for a new Indonesia" and
maintaining the safety and welfare of the nation are two
inseparable commitments of NU, the leaders said.

"Although NU ulema and members prefer KH Abdurrahman Wahid to
remain 'the nation's kyai', the executive board can understand
his candidacy and will not infringe on his right to carry out
efforts ... to uphold these two commitments by becoming a
candidate for Indonesia's presidency," the statement read.

Fear of unrest should the presidential election become
deadlocked led Abdurrahman to become a candidate, the NU leaders
said, adding this was why they "understood" his candidacy. They
also said it was a positive step for democracy in a country which
is used to only one presidential candidate.

NU secretary-general Ahmad Bagdja said the statement was meant
to help calm the situation one day before the scheduled
presidential election.

He acknowledged the statement would make Abdurrahman feel
better about throwing his hat into the ring for the presidency. A
number of leading figures in NU have objected to Gus Dur's
candidacy, citing his ill health and his role as a religious
leader.

The NU leaders told all political party leaders on Tuesday to
urge their supporters not to hold mass rallies. Supporters of the
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and
party chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri reportedly continued to
stream into the city on Monday night through a number of the
city's railroad stations.

NU leaders in Java have questioned how NU members would react
to competing presidential candidates -- Abdurrahman and Megawati.
NU strongholds such as East Java voted heavily in favor of PDI
Perjuangan in the general election.

The National Awakening Party (PKB), which was founded by
Abdurrahman and several other NU executives, initially supported
the presidential candidacy of Megawati Soekarnoputri. The party
later shifted its support to Abdurrahman, but PKB chairman Matori
Abdul Djalil and some party executives continue to support
Megawati.

Ahmad said Abdurrahman and Matori attended the meeting of the
18 members of NU's executive and law-making board, which was
halted at 3 a.m. on Tuesday before reconvening at midday. He also
said Akbar Tandjung of Golkar Party and Megawati were scheduled
to stop by the meeting in Central Jakarta later on Tuesday.

"The kyai here are ready to meet all political leaders to help
build communication," Ahmad said.

The NU leaders urged all people, including NU members who were
supporters of different political parties, to accept whoever was
elected president. "It's no problem for us if Gus Dur doesn't get
the presidency," Ahmad said.

What is important is the democratic process of the
presidential election, he said. (anr)