Politics should not be an issue for NU: Yogie

By Santi WE Soekanto and Petty Prihartini

TASIKMALAYA, West Java (JP): Minister of Home Affairs Yogie S. Memet told members of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) yesterday that they are free to channel their political aspirations through any of the three political parties in Indonesia.

Addressing the plenary meeting of Indonesia's largest Moslem organization yesterday, Yogie supported NU leaders' intention to free the organization from any political affiliation and, consequently, free its members to enter politics in a personal capacity.

"Politics shouldn't be an issue for NU," he said, likening the organization to a customer in the market. "It can choose any political and social parties it wishes."

"NU should neither try to limit its members' moves to enter any organization ... nor should it turn itself into a social political organization, mobilizing mass power to grab seats in the representative institutions," he said.

The issue of NU political independence is among several problems discussed in the organization's five-days congress which started yesterday and was opened by President Soeharto.

After the hubbub of the opening ceremony, which drew thousands of Moslem men in traditional black caps (peci) and women in colorful head scarves, the congress proceeded at a leisurely pace.

The ulemas attended plenary meetings in a laid-back style, some lifting their feet onto chairs, but with the same intense concentration they previously paid to President Soeharto.

Speculations about who will be elected to head the Syuriyah (law-making body) and the Tanfidziyah (executive board) of NU, have also begun to circulate among participants.

A number of people, including Mitsuo Nakamura, a Japanese anthropologist who attends the congress as an observer, declared that Abdurrahman Wahid, popularly known as Gus Dur, should be re- elected as Tanfidziyah chairman.

"Nahdlatul Ulama still needs figures like Abdurrahman," Nakamura said. "He is the kind of leader who can approach everybody, from political parties to social organizations, to handle various problems in cooperation."

"Abdurrahman still qualifies for the post because of his intellectuality, his broad outlook, and his independence of any sectarian political interests," Nakamura said. "He's the appropriate leader for NU."

Attacks

Gus Dur has been under heavy attacks from his political opponents for his various controversial moves, including his recent visit to Israel and his suggestion that Indonesia establish diplomatic ties with it.

Most of the other NU leaders, including acting chairman of Syuriyah, K.H. Ilyas Ruhiat, have apparently accepted Abdurrahman's explanation for the visit. In a recent interview with Warta, an intern tabloid of NU, Ilyas said that "sometimes Gus Dur's ideas are difficult to understand...but they're still ideas. Why the uproar?".

Gus Dur, who was recently appointed president of the World Conference on Religions and Peace, represented "his personal achievements, which might create positive impacts for his organization as well", Ilyas said.

"He doesn't only belong to NU or Indonesia... he belongs to the international world," Ilyas said. "Perhaps this is how NU members should understand him now."

However, Ilyas declined to endorse Abdurrahman or any other candidate. "I am ready to cooperate with anyone that the congress elects for chairman," he told the press yesterday.

Abdurrahman himself spent his time yesterday trying to avoid the attention people paid him. He sat far apart from other NU leaders and was not invited to greet Soeharto or to go up the stage to accompany the President and Ilyas to open the congress.

Those who are against his re-election have also launched their own campaign. Weeks prior to the congress, some NU figures, including Slamet Effendy Yusuf, had called on Abdurrahman not to run for re-election.

Slamet, chairman of the NU youth organization, GP Ansor, proposed that Abdurrahman be replaced by either Dr. Fahmi D. Syaifuddin, K.H. Wahid Zaini or Chalid Mawardi.

Yesterday, Fahmi declined from declaring his intention to run. Chalid, on the other hand, had recently declared his readiness to go to war in the congress.

In an apparent effort to block Chalid, who had been involved in PPP as well as Golkar, Abdurrahman recently announced his intention last week to run again. "Only to save NU resolution to return to its mission, Khittah, from certain politicians," Wahid had said.

The congress will receive briefings today from, among others, Armed Forces Commander Gen. Feisal Tanjung, Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro, and Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher. It will also discuss the accountability report of NU chairmen delivered last night.

Outside the meeting rooms, a number of related activities, including Islamic music shows and martial arts exhibitions, are being held to entertain "supporters" of NU from various cities.

Some of the people attending the ceremony yesterday walked several kilometers due to a shortage of transportation, while many others chose to sleep on the pavement the night before in the hope of catching a glimpse of President Soeharto and the ulemas.