PKB plays down fatwa polemic
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Surabaya/Kupang
National Awakening Party (PKB) politicians sought to dispel concerns over the possibility of internal friction rising among the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) as several NU figures blaze the campaign trail, but took up the challenge presented by their electoral rivals subtly.
The PKB was founded by the central board of the 40 million- strong NU, the country's largest Muslim organization, including disqualified candidate and former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid.
Solahuddin Wahid, an NU cleric and brother to Gus Dur, said on Tuesday that the NU would remain united even though NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi is running alongside incumbent President Megawati Soekarnoputri.
Hasyim has been suspended from his NU post for the duration of his campaign, while Solahuddin is running mate to Gen. (ret) Wiranto under the Golkar party banner.
Solahuddin stressed that Hasyim represented Megawati's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), not the NU.
"Historically, any political affairs relevant to the NU are taken care of by the PKB, which bases its decisions on the advice of the NU's elders. Therefore, Pak Hasyim represents neither the NU nor its central board," he told a cheering crowd in Surabaya, East Java.
Wiranto-Solahuddin gained the endorsement of the PKB following Golkar's public announcement of their nomination.
Campaign activities were also used as an opportunity to respond to a recent verbal fatwa -- generally a non-binding recommendation within the context of Indonesian Islam -- from several East Java NU clerics, who effectively said it was forbidden for Muslims to elect a woman president.
In response to the issue, PKB chairman Mahfud M.D. said the party "would not use the fatwa issue against other candidates", as the party adhered to a belief that it was haram -- or forbidden under Islamic law -- to elect a president who was incompetent.
Meanwhile, Wiranto in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, spoke at a campaign rally and press conference, declaring he had "the support of the international community" and that he was clean of any human rights violations. Mindful of the local Catholic majority, he stressed his commitment to uphold unity and protect minorities, hence he "would not tolerate the attempts of a few people to apply the sharia in Indonesia".
In response to suggestions that the economy might collapse further if he did not have international backing, he said he had the support of "at least 15 countries".
"I have met with the envoys of friendly countries in Europe and the Middle East, of Japan, Singapore, the United States, Australia..." He said they expressed appreciation for the democratic process in Indonesia over several meetings, and that none of them had expressed any objection to his candidacy.
In fact, they voiced their support, so "none of those countries would stop their financial aid", he said.
In Jakarta, United Development Party (PPP) candidates Hamzah Haz and Gen. (ret) Agum Gumelar held on Tuesday a fairly festive outdoor campaign at the Kemayoran Fairground, Central Jakarta.
The campaign featured a number of popular performers -- such as transvestite entertainer Dorce Gamalama and record-breaking drummer Jelly Tobing -- making the event reminiscent of the fanfare preceding the April 5 general election.
Crowds danced in the heat to dangdut music sporting brand-new campaign T-shirts, while Hamzah pledged to provide free primary and secondary education if he were elected president.
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