NU to hold congress on Thursday

NU to hold congress on Thursday

JAKARTA: The country's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul
Ulama (NU), will hold a four-day congress from July 25 through to
July 28 here, which is slated to discuss the organization's
internal matters as well as national issues, including the
ongoing amendment process on the 1945 Constitution.

NU Chairman Hasyim Muzadi said the organization had held
several hearings with other social and religious elements in the
country prior to the congress in an attempt to determine the
effects of the amendment.

"One prominent point in the amendment is to promote a direct
presidential election. This will have a positive impact on our
country because the legislative body will no longer be able to
interfere with the executive body's internal affairs.

"But the amendment will also have a negative impact on us
because it will completely change our state administrative
system," Hasyim told a media conference at the NU secretariat in
Central Jakarta.

Some 1,000 NU ulemas, including those from the restive regions
of Ambon, Irian Jaya and Aceh are expected to attend.--JP