Spiritual guidance needed in NU row

Spiritual guidance needed in NU row

JAKARTA (JP): The East Java Regional Executive Board of the
Nahdlatul Ulama yesterday urged its members to exercise restraint
and seek spiritual guidance in resolving the conflict befalling
the country's largest Moslem organization.

Board chairman Hasyim Muzadi suggested NU members pray
to resolve the threat posed by a splinter group under Abu Hasan
that has formed a rival executive board, Antara reported
yesterday.

East Java is one of NU's largest basis. The regional board has
pledged loyalty to the leadership of Abdurrahman Wahid amid the
growing rift within the organization.

Hasyim said tirakat (self restraint) and istiqhotsah (prayers
for guidance) have proven most effective in bringing speedy
resolutions to problems in the past.

Abu Hasan's "adventures" are undermining NU's organizational
system and mechanism, said Hasyim, the owner of the Al-Hikam
Pesantren (Moslem boarding school) in Malang. "He has turned the
NU upside down. We have to face him with restraint and prayers."

He said he would urged the NU central board to appeal to all
NU members in Indonesia to do the same.

Hasyim also alleged that Abu Hasan had the tacit support of
certain government officials.

Abu Hasan, who lost the election to the incumbent Abdurrahman
during the NU congress in Cipasung, West Java, in December 1994,
last week organized a congress of his own in Jakarta which
elected him as the NU chairman.

Abu Hasan's election, however, was not recognized by the
government, with senior cabinet officials saying that Abdurrahman
remains the legitimate leader of the organization.

Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Tahir has already
offered his good offices to mediate between the two camps, but
supporters in Abdurrahman's board said that behind the gesture
was implicit recognition of Abu Hasan's existence. (emb)