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