NU wins praises for its brave decision

By Santi WE Soekanto and Petty Prihartini

TASIKMALAYA, West Java (JP): Nahdlatul Ulama, the largest Moslem organization, began its 29th congress with declarations by its leaders which virtually put a plug on recent efforts to drag it back into politics.

President Soeharto opened the five-day congress by stating his approval of the organization leaders' decision to reaffirm its 1984 vow to shun party politics.

"It's a brave and right decision," Soeharto told some 10,000 NU leaders flocking at the Cipasung pondok pesantren (Islamic boarding school) in the Singaparna district, where the organization's five-day congress is taking place.

"History has recorded that in the past Nahdlatul Ulama had once been involved in practical politics...(and) was forced to deal with problems which were not easy to solve," he said.

"With this decision, NU members will be able to pay greater attention to its mission, as well as give its members the mandate to be responsibly involved in practical politics in an individual capacity," he said.

NU leaders have chosen this congress as a platform to re- confirm a vow they made ten years ago that the organization would return to its original mission. It was established in 1926 as a religious and educational organization, hence the return to the Khittah (basic guidelines) of 1926.

Prior to 1984, NU had been involved in politics, either as a political organization or as a faction within the United Development Party (PPP), which was a fusion of several Moslem parties.

The "back to Khittah" decision, however, was not taken without opposition. Some of the politicking ulemas in the organization who failed to snatch the chairmanship of PPP in September have campaigned to draw NU back into politics, arguing that the existing parties failed to represent their interests.

The opening ceremony was also attended by First Lady Tien Soeharto; several cabinet ministers; chairman of PPP Ismail Hasan Metareum; chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) Megawati Soekarnoputri; and chairman of Golkar Harmoko.

Praise

Soeharto started off his speech by heaping praise on the organization, which presently has some 34 million members, mostly in rural areas, for its past and present contributions "for the development of Indonesia as a nation based on the ideology of Pancasila".

"NU views the country as the final form of the Moslems' struggle in politics," Soeharto said to loud applause from the congress participants who, upon arriving in Singaparna, have been reminded by countless posters and banners of NU's vow to return to the Khittah.

"NU has stated this stance clearly...this stance is a great contribution for this country's solidity," Soeharto said.

He also reminded the ulemas, who are scheduled to set up the organization's programs as well as elect new leaders, to also contribute ideas on the government campaign for nationalism.

"NU already has strong and clear concepts on how to balance loyalty towards its religion, its nation and toward mankind."

K.H. Moh. Ilyas Ruhiat, acting chairman (Rois Aam) of Syuriyah, NU's law-making body, also made clear once and for all in his opening speech that the organization will not return, as an institution, to politics.

"Politics is not 'haram' (forbidden)...it has important roles in the social order," he said, to a loud applause of the participants. However, "NU frees its members (to enter politics) responsibly but also asks them to bear the political risks without dragging the organization into the ensuing fray."

"The organization also asks any of its members not to be dragged into conflicts with other NU members who choose different political avenues," said Ilyas, who is also the host of the congress.

When chairman of the organizing committee, K.H. Munasir Ali, addressed Harmoko, Megawati and Ismail Hasan he aptly described NU's position as a potential power base which some political parties have been eying with interest.

"I know you all sympathize with NU, but after this (vow to return to) Khittah, NU members will be everywhere including in (your) parties," he said.

PDI and Golkar leaders have been engaged in a kind of competition to win a number of NU leaders who were frustrated by their loss in PPP's chairmanship bid.

Even Ismail Hasan of PPP, who promptly kissed Ilyas' hand upon his arrival at the congress venue, looked set to appease NU politicians when he offered important positions in the party's advisory council for NU leaders.

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