Obituary

Obituary

K.H. Shohib Bisri, a respected Moslem scholar and leader of
the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) organization, died of kidney failure on
Thursday in Jombang, East Java. He was 66 years old.

Bisri, who is son of NU leader K.H. Bisri Syansuri, is
survived by nine children and 15 grandchildren.

Antara news agency reported yesterday that Bisri, who is also
the uncle of NU chairman Abdurrahman Wahid, had been suffering
from the disease since three years ago.

Bisri died at Jombang Hospital, but he was briefly
hospitalized at Darmo Hospital in Surabaya in November.

Among people who paid him a visit during his bout of illness
were Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, eldest daughter of President
Soeharto, Army Chief Gen. R. Hartono, and East Java Governor
Basofi Sudirman.

"Please forgive me, forgive me my mistake. Please pray for my
health. Pray that I will soon be able to resume our struggle
through NU," Bisri frequently told visitors.

Bisri was buried after Friday prayer yesterday at the compound
of the Pesantren (Moslem boarding school) Mambaul Maa'rif in
Denanyar, Jombang. (swe)