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)