NU to stay away from PKB dispute

NU to stay away from PKB dispute

YOGYAKARTA: The Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the country's largest
Muslim organization, says the organization will stay away from
the legal wrangles involving the two National Awakening Party
(PKB) factions.

NU Chairman Hasyim Muzadi said on Thursday in Yogyakarta that
PKB executives should settle the dispute on their own, as NU had
decided not to meddle in the matter.

"During our meeting in Pati, Central Java, we decided that NU
will stay away from the issue," Hasyim was quoted by Detik.com,
referring to the NU leaders' meeting earlier this week held
specifically to discuss the dispute.

PKB was formed by NU leaders in 1999, but split into two camps
in 2001 after then chairman Matori Abdul Djalil was removed by
former president Abdurrahman Wahid for supporting his
impeachment. Matori formed his own branch of the PKB after his
ouster, also called the PKB.

Abdurrahman, the party's founder and patron, was Hasyim's
predecessor, and led NU for 15 years before becoming Indonesian
president in 1999. He is also a noted Muslim cleric.

"For NU, the most important thing is to keep its members from
uncertainty, especially ahead of the 2004 election," he said. --
JP