NU supporters advised to trust government
NU supporters advised to trust government
DEMAK, Central Java (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid renewed
on Saturday his request to Nahdladul Ulama (NU) supporters to
trust the government and refrain from storming the capital to
demand the government deal with the current crisis.
In his keynote address to commemorate the 100th anniversary of
Futuhiyyah Islamic boarding school in Mranggen, Demak, some 35
kilometers east of Semarang, the President said that if NU
supporters were really aware of the national situation, they
would leave all the problems to the government.
Thousands of NU supporters were attending the ceremony held in
the boarding school yard.
House deputy speaker Muhaimin Iskandar, State Minister of
Forestry Marzuki Usman and Governor of Central Java Mardiyanto
were also at hand.
The President planted a teak tree to mark a national
regreening campaign.
NU supporters are worried that the President will be unseated
in a dishonorable manner following the House of Representatives
(DPR) recommendation for MPR to hold a special session.
However Abdurrahman, known by his nickname "Gus Dur", played
down the situation. "It is a trivial thing," he said. "The taller
a tree the stronger the wind it will face."
"There is no point in NU ulemas being frustrated and for them
to go to Jakarta. As Muslims, we must love peace. We are all
brothers. Therefore, any problems arising among us must be dealt
with in a peaceful and brotherly manner, instead of using
violence," he said.
He asked NU supporters to adopt the attitude and principles of
the first president, Sukarno, who preferred non-violence (in
dealing with all problems).
"We should also look to Mahatma Gandhi who hated violence. We
must be firm (in fighting for something), but we must not be
violent. There is a clear distinction between being firm and
being violent."
"All of us have our own responsibility in maintaining order,
creating peace and avoiding violence. Storming Jakarta will
create more problems. NU members and supporters must understand
this," he said.
NU supporters, especially those from East Java, have been
notorious for their high temper and determination in expressing
their support for President Abdurrahman, once the chairman of NU,
by storming the capital city in huge mass rallies.
Recent violence in several towns across East Java, including
Pasuruan, have allegedly been conducted by NU supporters who have
protested the People's Consultative Assembly's (MPR) plan to open
the special session to impeach the President.
Hours before, the President was in Semarang to lay a
cornerstone of a new office of the provincial chapter of the
National Awakening Party (PKB).
Gus Dur, who is one of the party's founding fathers, donated
Rp 1 billion to the project. (har/sur)