NU warns of organized efforts to destroy Indonesia

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), has sent a message of warning to the public over systematic efforts, involving foreign forces, to tear the country apart and has urged the political elite to unite in order to save the nation from collapse.

NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi said on Sunday that indications over the involvement of foreign forces in the current crises plaguing the country had been clear by the movement of a foreign aircraft carrier toward Indonesian waters.

"If this information (about the carrier) is true, this is similar to the period leading to the fall of Sukarno and Soeharto," Hasyim said, referring to Indonesia's first and second presidents.

Speaking after attending Istigotsah mass prayer in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, Hasyim was quoted by Antara as saying that the country was currently on the brink of collapse, and only "God's hands could save us."

He expressed his concerns over the behavior of members of the political elite who prioritized personal and group interests above all others and often disregarded the public's interest.

Many of those national leaders have not yet realized that they have been played with by "foreign forces that want to destroy Indonesia."

"Many national political leaders do not think of how to improve public welfare anymore, but prioritize their personal and group interests," he said at the mass prayer.

Thousands of NU members from Samarinda and other nearby towns gathered at the parking lot of Samarinda's Segiri sports hall to take part in the mass prayer, attended by East Kalimantan Governor Suwarna Abdul Fatah.

The NU chairman also warned that the move by certain members of the political elite to unseat President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid would not bring about any improvement in the country's situation.

"If President Gus Dur is replaced, it will not solve the problem but will add another new problem that will just make things more complicated.

Embattled President Abdurrahman, who chaired NU for years until his ascent to the presidency in Oct. 1999, is currently on the brink of being impeached following the issuance of a second memorandum of censure of the President by the House of Representatives.

The NU chairman called on all the political elite to put aside their group interests and seek a compromise to lead the country out of crisis.

Should the elite fail to find a compromise, Hasyim said the decision over the fate of the nation should be returned to the public through the holding of a general election.

"This is of course difficult because the holding of a general election is expensive, needs time... But if a compromise fails to materialize, the cost of a general election is still cheaper than the social conflicts that may arise." (02/rid)