Tug-of-war within NU

Tug-of-war within NU

From Merdeka

The tug of war between the young leader KH Abdurrachman Wachid
(Gus Dur) and the senior leader H. Abu Hasan is apparently
becoming protracted and there are no signs that any of the two
parties are willing to concede. Lately the conflict even seems to
have sharpened, thereby leading NU into the trap of internal
conflict which gives cause for concern.

This internal conflict is growing wider and now disregards the
doctrine defined by the former ulemas and elders whose fatwa were
respected by all NU members throughout this country. This is
evident by the recent formation of a new faction calling itself
the Sons and Daughters of Founders of NU, sponsored by KH Shohib
Hasbulloh of the Islamic learning institution Pondok Pesantren
Den Anyar, Jombang. The group has asked for Gus Dur to step down
as general chairman of the NU board. He was elected during the
29th NU Conference. This should be done at an extraordinary
conference, which, according to the group's members, has gained
much support from religious scholars outside the group.

All this is causing great concern among NU members because the
emergence of the new faction occurred at a time when Gus Dur is
busy consolidating the organization's branches and chapters in
order to overcome the differences and establish unity and a
cohesion of minds in the spirit of Islamic brotherhood and
national unity.

It seems that some older leaders who support H. Abu Hasan
cannot accept their defeat at the 29th NU Conference. Some
prominent personalities and leaders within NU are politically
immature. They have never studied the theory or strategy of
modern politics so they still think along the old pattern -- in a
simple and straightforward manner. They believe that elders
determine all and are frustrated when their wishes are
unfulfilled. The move for an extraordinary conference will not
cause their ambitions to become reality. On the contrary, it will
cause harm, particularly to the younger generation.

K. ABDUL WACHID SURIS

Surabaya