NU warned against turning its back on the grass roots

JAKARTA (JP): The Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) will take on the psychological challenge of making a break from its charismatic, longtime leader Abdurrahman Wahid, observers said on Thursday.

Minister of Religious Affairs Tolchah Hasan and political analyst Kacung Marijan warned that the country's largest Muslim organization would lose people's confidence if it tried to make full use of its link with Abdurrahman, who is now President.

"NU was raised by people in the grassroots, so it should serve the people, not the government," Tolchah said, adding that NU's split from its roots "would lead to tragedy".

Tolchah was speaking at a seminar on NU and its role after its congress in Kediri from Nov. 21 to Nov. 27. The congress, which is held every five years, will elect a replacement for Abdurrahman, who took office in 1984.

Tolchah suggested that NU maintain its critical stance on the government, regardless of the fact that this would pit it head-to-head against Abdurrahman.

In Surabaya, political observer Kacung Marijan of state Airlangga University warned of the possibility that, due to his psychological ties with NU, Abdurrahman would exercise its power to ask the organization to choose a successor in his favor.

"The fact that a candidate for the top post in NU has claimed to have obtained Abdurrahman's blessing to replace him shows that he can still play an influential role in NU," Kacung said.

He was referring to Hasyim Muzadi, chief of NU's East Java chapter, who said that Abdurrahman, popularly known as Gus Dur, approved his nomination.

"NU leaders must be independent and avoid the government's intervention. Apart from strong managerial skills, the next NU leader should preserve its criticism against Gus Dur," Kacung said.

Abdurrahman is scheduled to open the NU congress on Nov. 21 in his capacity as President. Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri has agreed to close the event.

Withdrawal

With just three days remaining, another favorite candidate for NU's top post, Mustofa Bisri, threw in his towel, saying he lacked competence to lead the organization.

"I cannot manage myself, so how could I manage such a big organization like NU," Mustofa said in Semarang. NU membership is estimated at 35 million.

Mustofa, a noted Muslim cleric of Rembang in Central Java and also a poet, asserted that he did not wish to run for the position.

He suggested that NU choose young talent for the top executive post, considering the organization's moral burden to help the country emerge from the protracted crisis.

Mustofa's withdrawal appears to pave the way for Muzadi to clinch the chairmanship position. Noted scholar Said Aqiel Siradj and NU deputy chairman Fadjrul Falaakh have also been touted as contenders to succeed Abdurrahman.

Malik Madany, a lecturer at Yogyakarta-based Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic Institute shared Kacung's view, saying that the next NU leader must be independent and strong enough to lead its members to strict adherence of the organization's 1926 pledge to stay away from politics.

"I think Hasyim is not a strong leader due to his closeness to Abdurrahman. I believe Mustofa is the perfect leader as he is very critical of Gus Dur," Malik said in Yogyakarta during a monthly discussion hosted by The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

Another speaker, Cornelis Lay of Gadjah Mada University, concurred, adding that it was necessary for NU followers not to blindly defend Abdurrahman.

"It will only create authoritarianism," he said. (44/har/nur/edt)