NU's 4th party established in Jombang

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)