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)