Undaunted Abu Hasan moves to form new NU board
Undaunted Abu Hasan moves to form new NU board
JAKARTA (JP): Undaunted by threats of punishment from the
leaders of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), dissenter Abu Hasan goes on
with his plan to establish an extra-structural body within the
Moslem organization.
In defiance of the camp of NU chairman Abdurrahman Wahid, he
assembled at his residence on Thursday 30 ulemas whom he already
named in the line-up of the body. He called it the "Coordinating
Board for the Executive Board of Nahdlatul Ulama" (KPPNU).
Although the body bears a resemblance in structure with the
NU executive board, he refused to call it a "rival board".
"This is not a rival board, the press made it all up," he
said tensely. "We are not separatist...separatism is an outdated
concept, a lie".
"We are members of NU, and we love and respect this
organization now as much as we did when it was first established
by Hasjim Asjhari."
The meeting of the dissenting ulemas, which was originally
intended for inducting members of the new body, started grimly.
Abu Hasan sat impassively, flanked by his supporters, and no
small talk was heard among those present.
The atmosphere changed soon after Abu Hasan began the
meeting by reading a statement of K.H. Idham Chalid, a respected
NU scholar, supporting Abu's moves and the extra-structural body.
"I fully support Abu Hasan and the KPPNU with all my heart
and soul," Idham was quoted by Abu Hasan, to loud applause from
the attending ulemas.
Idham, a former NU chairman, had previously expressed his
reluctance to be included in any form of administration post at
the organization, citing health problems. Prior to the NU
congress earlier this month, he rejected calls from various
quarters that he help command the organization by assuming an
advisory post.
Abu Hasan, a businessman and one of NU's major financial
donors, denied press reports which said that a number of
prominent ulemas he named in the KPPNU line-up had deserted him.
"This is a coordinating board, people can join or leave it
freely," he said. He added he was sure of the support of ulemas
like Zainuddin M.Z.
Through his secretary Bagus Satriyanto, Zainuddin had told
Abdurrahman Wahid, chairman of NU executive board elected in the
congress, that he was not informed of Abu Hasan's plan to include
him in KPPNU.
Abu Hasan set up the KPPNU in structures exactly like the
original board. Which means that it has a Mustasyar (advisory
council), a Syuriyah (law-making body), and a Tanfidzyah
(executive board). Abu Hasan named himself as chairman of the
Tanfidzyah. His secretary-general is Chozin Husnin. Idham Chalid
is the Mustasyar chairman and K.H. Syukron Makmun is the Syuriyah
chairman.
On Wednesday, Abdurrahman Wahid and his camp stated that as
far as they were concerned, the rival board established by the
camp of Abu Hasan was non-existent. Abdurrahman's secretary-
general, Achmad Bagdja, even threatened that the board would
punish Abu Hasan for dissension.
On Thursday Abu Hasan labeled certain individuals in the
rival camp as munkar, a strong word to use against Moslems as it
denotes repudiation of faith. "There's no way that we can forgive
and forget these munkar individuals," he said, adding that his
camp, however, is still hoping that the government would finally
approve of the new body.
Ismail Hasan Metareum, chairman of the Moslem-oriented
United Development Party (PPP), expressed concern on Thursday
about the developments in NU, but said he was optimistic that
reconciliation could be established.
According to the PPP leader, who frustrated certain NU
leaders bids to make the party's top post during August's
election, individuals in both camps are mature and experienced
people.
"I'm sure they will finally cooperate...(the conflicts) will
be over," he said. (swe)