President asks Nahdlatul Ulama to remain critical

KEDIRI, East Java (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid urged on Sunday the country's largest Muslim organization, the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), to remain critical of the government.

Abdurrahman, the NU's outgoing chairman, made the statement at the opening of the organization's congress at the Lirboyo Islamic Boarding School complex on the town's outskirts.

More than 400,000 Muslims, including about 2,000 delegations from 306 NU branches across the country, as well as local and foreign observers attended the ceremony.

The President said good relations between his administration and NU members could be maintained even when the Muslim organization needed to be critical of the government.

"This (critical stand) has been maintained for a long time. I felt I was oppressed for 15 years for being incompatible with the government," Abdurrahman said.

"Should we abandon this attitude only because we have good relations? Being critical should be the base for democracy in the country," he said to the applause of attendees.

Abdurrahman has chaired NU since 1984. Following his election to the presidency, he must relinquish the post. One of the major agenda's at the congress is to seek Abdurrahman's successor.

The President also called on NU and its ulemas to be consistent with the organization's commitment to helping the nation to develop.

"NU and its ulemas should continue to play their role in seeking solutions to national problems," he said.

The President said that all Muslims, ulemas and their organizations should be active in coping with the threats of disintegration and the nationwide problem of drug and alcohol abuse.

Also present at the ceremony were People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Amien Rais, MPR Deputy Speaker Matori Abdul Djalil, House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Akbar Tandjung and East Java Governor Imam Utomo.

The President's entourage included First Lady Shinta Nuriyah Rachman, Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, her husband Taufik Kiemas, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Wiranto, Minister of Religious Affairs Tolchah Hasan, Minister of Forestry and Plantations Nur Mahmudi Ismail, Minister of Maritime Exploration Sarwono Kusumaatmadja and Indonesian Military Commander Admiral Widodo A.S.

Despite the tight security, the public poured into the congress venue to greet the President and his entourage.

Thousands of security guards from NU's youth organization Ansor and about 2,300 security personnel from the East Java Provincial Police and Military Command were deployed to secure the ceremony.

Abdurrahman, popularly known as Gus Dur, appreciated the presence of VIPs and foreign delegations at the congress, saying this was evidence of the importance of NU and its mission.

"It is the first time that I and the Vice President, who I always call Mbak Mega, have attended the same event," he said. Megawati was also representing the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) during the ceremony.

"We should bear in mind that PDI Perjuangan was the winner of the June 7 general election," Abdurrahman said, adding that he was able to cooperate with Megawati because in addition to their long-term association, he had always treated her as his younger sister.

The President told his audience that Akbar was representing the Golkar Party, Amien was attending on behalf of the National Mandate Party (PAN) and Nur Mahmudi was representing the "axis force".

"Their presence, as well as that of Muhammadiyah chairman Achmad Syafei Ma'arif, delegations from Malaysia and Saudi Arabia and a number of observers from Japan, the United States and The Hague, are an expression of their love for the NU.

"NU is respected because the socioreligious organization has long shown its commitment to giving contributions and sacrifices for the sake of the nation."

Abdurrahman said that despite his rise to the nation's top job, NU should maintain its independence and control the government in order to promote good governance.

The chief of the NU's law-making body, Ilyas Ruchyat, called on the congress participants to pay more attention to social welfare issues in the country.

"The congress must focus on the fate of Muslim people who are mostly living in rural areas and with low education levels," he said, adding that economic development should be oriented to rural dwellers and small and middle-sized entrepreneurs.

Chairman of the congress's organizing committee Said Aqiel Siradj said the congress was expected to discuss not only NU's internal issues, but also matters of national interest.

"NU must be able to help the government solve various problems facing the nation, particularly the Aceh case," he said. (nur/rms)