Support for NU

Support for NU

Observing the press coverage concerning NU (Nahdlatul Ulama) --
the biggest religious organization in Indonesia -- I think all
right-thinking people hope that NU can manage its own affairs
under Gus Dur's leadership, and should be left alone. The
government officials should also support the party's leadership
and stop issuing comments which give the impression that the
government needs to save the party and lead the conflicting sides
to reconciliation.

The comments made by the officials on the organization
recently reminds me of the "catastrophe" that befell the HKBP
church. The church is still suffering the consequences of the
intervention of a so-called peacekeeping team from outside the
church, like Bakorstanasda (Agency for the Coordination of
Support for the Development of National Stability in the
province), the Ministry of Religious Affairs and other bodies,
and most recently the reconciliation team of Minister T.B.
Silalahi.

All these outside efforts failed and left the church in chaos,
while the government-supported leadership can only exercise its
authority with the support of armed forces personnel.

Learning from these lessons, we have to give full support to
the NU leadership - the legitimate product of the Cipasung
congress - and pray for the well-being of this religious
organization which has about 40 million members. Help the party
to overcome all these trivial matters.

ENDANG ROKHANI

Jakarta