NU's 4th party established in Jombang

JOMBANG, East Java (JP): Thousands of supporters of Nahdlatul Ulama witnessed on Sunday the launching of Partai Kebangkitan Umat (Ummah Awakening Party, PKU), born out of disappointment in the previous three NU affiliated parties.

Chairman Yusuf Hasyim declared the new party's readiness to contest the general election and said the party was ready to compete with the other NU parties -- the SUNI, the National Awakening Party (PKB) and Nahdlatul Ummat Party. He described his party as "Islamic, adhering to the Sunni branch, not secular".

The Ummah Awakening Party was first introduced in Jakarta on Sept. 21, but was only formally launched on Sunday at Tebuireng Islamic boarding school. Among those present at the event were Irsyad Sudiro of Golkar, Ahmad Sumargono of the Crescent Star Party, Nurmahmudi Ismail of the Justice Party and Jombang Regent Affandi.

The secretary-general of the party is Asnawi Latief, while other executives include Shalahuddin Wahid (the younger brother of Nahdlatul Ulama chairman Abdurrahman Wahid) and Fahmi Saefuddin.

Jusuf, who is an uncle of Abdurrahman Wahid, said he had discussed the possibility of forming an alliance with SUNI chairman Abu Hasan and Nahdlatul Ummat Party chairman Syukron Makmun.

"We are hoping these three parties will not direct their members to support a secular leader," Jusuf said. "There's a possibility that the National Awakening Party (led by Matori Abdul Djalil) will ally itself with the Indonesian Democratic Party and put forward (its chairwoman) Megawati Soekarnoputri as presidential candidate.

"This cannot be accepted among the lower layers of Nahdlatul Ulama," he said, charging that Matori's party, which has the full endorsement of Abdurrahman Wahid, would "plunge" its supporters into "secular choice."

Killings

In his remarks, Jusuf also called for an immediate stop to the killing of Moslem people, especially Nahdlatul Ulama members. He was referring to the murder spree in East Java, which has reportedly spread to Central Java and other areas.

Meanwhile, Antara reported on Sunday that angry mobs killed three people in Demak, Central Java, in reprisal for murders allegedly committed by unidentified people wearing ninja-like masks and dark clothing.

The three victims, including a woman, were assumed by the mobs to be "ninja-killers" out to kidnap their ulemas. However, the news agency also reported that the victims were on a field hunting for snakes.

Local police identified the two men as Damuri Ismoyo, 50, and Ngatipan, 45, but failed to reveal the woman's identity as she reportedly carried four identification cards.

Central Java Police chief Maj. Gen. Nurfaizi said on Sunday in Semarang that police would take stern action against people who took the law into their own hands.

Central Java Police so far have apprehended four men involved in the attack.

Meanwhile, Nurul Huda of Nahdatul Ulama (NU) executive board in Demak called on people to turn suspected killers into the authorities.

"Killing people is a great sin," Nurul said. (nur/edt)