NU poised for new leadership

NU poised for new leadership

TASIKMALAYA, West Java (JP): Battling slander and rumors of
external pressure, Abdurrahman Wahid looked set yesterday for re-
election to the helm of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).

The controversial leader of the country's largest Moslem
organization entered the race for chairmanship of NU executive
board (Tanfidzyah) last night pocketing majority support.

Senior ulemas K.H. Sahal Mahfudz and K.H. Ilyas Ruhiat, the
outgoing acting chairman of the law-making body (Syuriyah), were
the strongest candidates for the post of Rais Aam (chairman) of
the body.

In a lengthy election process last night, ulemas from 25
provincial branches and 275 branches at regency level voted for
leaders amidst reports of covert interference from various
parties.

Five ulemas from Irian Jaya, West Java, Aceh, West and Central
Java, led the proceedings which was delayed due to extra security
measures and time-consuming roll calls.

Until the actual voting took place, intimidation of candidates
became the order of the day. A well-informed congress source told
The Jakarta Post that some government officials have "pressed"
chairmen of provincial branches to elect candidates other than
Abdurrahman, who is popularly known as Gus Dur.

The candidates who have reportedly been approved by the
government are Fahmi D. Syaefuddin and Abu Hasan. They enjoyed
support from some provincial branches but not as much as
Abdurrahman.

Chairman of the East Java branch reportedly wept because of
the pressure he felt but was unbuckled, declaring that his group
"was ready to go to war" for the incumbent.

Another rumor circulating in the congress arena was that
certain candidates had been buying votes from some branches.

The situation in the arena became a little chaotic last night,
as NU youths shouted their support for Abdurrahman and displayed
defiance towards the so-called "external pressures".

Informed sources, including NU leader Cholil Musaddad, said
that Abdurrahman would win at least 70 percent of all votes if
there was no pressure.

Earlier in the day, Wahid made a last minute attempt to
convince people that he deserved the support he had been
receiving, and did not have to rely on his family ties with the
organization's founder, K.H. Hasjim Asjhari, who was his
grandfather.

Blue-blood

His opponents mentioned the blue-blood connection in speaking
about Abdurrahman's supporters loyalty.

"Blue-blood is nonexistent," Abdurrahman told journalists
yesterday. "Blood line is something of the past. I'm judged by my
achievements and my values, not family ties."

He said that if NU members had been loyal to him because of he
was the grandson of the NU founding founder, they should have
switched their support to his uncle K.H. Yusuf Hasyim.

"NU now needs a leader with broader vision," he said.

According to Abdurrahman, NU is emerging as a stronger
organization manned by younger people who will certainly exert
their own force in influencing the election process.

"In the latest congress five years ago, the decision making
process was influenced by people of fifty years of age and
older," he said.

"Now the organization is dominated by people...most of them
under forty..and they have forged a more solid solidarity."

Some of Abdurrahman's staunchest supporters are members of NU
youth organizations. Many of them praised his bold and often
controversial ideas.

"His thoughts are new to this organization," an NU youth said.

Abdurrahman also denied that the government was opposing his
re-election.

"I'm not a confrontational person," he said.

Abdurrahman also played down reports of certain military
officers and their dislike for Gus Dur.

He claimed he had many friends in the Armed Forces, among them
Gen. Feisal Tanjung, the commander.

He acknowledged being the target of an onslaught of
intimidation, especially from a number of mass media
organizations. "There's a slander and intimidation campaign from
four news media, Republika, Terbit, Pelita and the private TV
station TPI," he said.

"I think, from today, they will correct their views," he
added. "Except Republika, of course, because of its close ties
with the Moslem Intellectual Association, ICMI."

The NU leader himself has never tried to hide his dislike for
intellectual association. (swe/pet/wahyu muryadi)