NU warns of organized efforts to destroy Indonesia
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)