Ulemas banned for politicking

Ulemas banned for politicking

SURABAYA (JP): A group of local Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) scholars,
known for their critical view of chairman Abdurrahman Wahid, has
been banned for politicking.

East Java Governor Basofi Soedirman asked the group, calling
itself FOKUS and claiming to have the support of 100 mullahs, to
dissolve for fear of competing with the original provincial
chapter of NU.

In a breaking of the fast gathering with some 100 managers of
pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) Monday night, Basofi urged
group leader Hasib Wahab to stop activities which he said
"endangered unity among mullahs, especially members of NU".

"If there are differences of opinion, resolve them through
deliberation. There's no need to establish a new group instead,"
Basofi said of the organization which attracted public attention
last November by naming 10 people they said were vice
presidential material. Among the 10 was Basofi himself, who then
rejected the "nomination".

With some 30 million rural-based members and followers,
Nahdlatul Ulama is Indonesia's largest Moslem organization. Its
chairman Abdurrahman Wahid, better known as Gus Dur, is a
controversial scholar who also dabbles in politics, despite the
organization's declaration that it would not conduct such
activities.

Upon the initiative of Hasib Wahab who leads the Bahrul Ulum
boarding school in Jombang, FOKUS was established in June 1996 by
about 25 leaders of local pesantrens. The mullahs claimed in
their declaration that they would strengthen the brotherhood
based on the Sunnite Moslem tradition.

However, the mullahs have also been known to voice concern
about what they call Abdurrahman's proclivity toward Shiite
tradition. Hasib Wahab himself has often criticized Abdurrahman's
political activities.

Since being established, however, FOKUS has also become very
political. In addition to putting forward the names of people it
considered vice presidential material, the organization also at
one time jumped onto the bandwagon of those condemning the
outlawed Democratic People's Party (PRD) youth organization. The
mullahs also declared their support of the Armed Forces' dual
role in politics and defense.

As a result, the FOKUS mullahs received their share of
criticism from local NU members who believe they had damaged the
organization's order and reputation.

Hasib himself expressed disappointment over the banning,
saying he had sought to settle any misunderstanding that the
governor might have about the group.

"I really don't understand the governor. He supported the
establishment of FOKUS, and I always consulted him in our
activities," Hasib said. "But what can I say? We are going to
consider his (stance) seriously." (nur)