Ulemas criticized for trying to push NU into politics
Ulemas criticized for trying to push NU into politics
JAKARTA (JP): The chairman of Indonesia's largest Moslem
organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), dismisses as "unrealistic"
scholars' suggestions that the organization return to politics.
"They just don't understand what they are doing," Abdurrahman
Wahid told journalists at NU's headquarters in Central Jakarta
yesterday.
Abdurrahman said that the ulemas' insistence that NU play
politics again the way it did before 1984 reflected their lack of
knowledge of the organization's basic policy.
In its historic 1984 congress in East Java, NU decided to shun
politics and return to its original mission as a socio-
educational organization, which is what its founding fathers
intended in 1926.
The policy, well known as returning to khittah (or
guidelines), allows members to engage in political activities in
their personal capacity.
Wahid said that if the ulemas were consistent with the
khittah, they should instead review the implementation of the
guidelines, rather than reversing what has been decided.
Suggestions to review the resolution could be presented at
NU's congress next month and it would be up to the participants
to accept or reject them, he added.
A number of ulemas, spearheaded by Syansuri Badawi, deputy
chief of NU's lawmaking body, said recently that returning to
politics would be high on the organization's list of priorities
at next month's congress in Tasikmalaya, West Java.
Syansuri said that although NU has stayed away from politics,
its policy of allowing members to join any of the three political
parties has put its leaders in an awkward position.
The ulemas' desire to return to politics was fanned by their
failure to secure the chairmanship at the Moslem-based United
Development Party (PPP).
Syansuri also reiterated many ulema's determination to use the
upcoming congress to discuss a controversial plan to form a new
political organization in addition to the existing three.
Impossible
Abdurrahman said that it would be impossible to alter the
khittah because it served as NU's fundamental guidelines. He
added that the ulemas currently making the political moves were
those who oppose upholding the results of the 1984 congress.
He accused the ulemas of cheating each other to serve their
personal ends.
"They are only serving their own interests. How can they take
part in the next congress if they do not know the rules?" he
said.
Abdurrahman also questioned the confusing stance taken by
influential ulema Ali Yafie who is in favor of NU's returning to
politics, while in fact Ali was among those who originally
supported the khittah. "It's strange," he said.
Abdurrahman, however, denied allegations that NU is about to
crumble because of its internal bickering. "It's only a matter of
airing different opinions. The ulemas can say whatever they
want," he added.
Meanwhile, Antara quoted NU secretary general Ichwan Sam as
saying in Surabaya, East Java, yesterday that the 29th congress
would be regarded successful if the khittah was strongly upheld.
He also said he hoped the parley would prepare a program which
supports the khittah. (par)