12/06/2004, 00.00
INDONESIA
Send to a friend

Nahdlatul Ulama in danger of splitting

by Mathias Hariyadi

Indonesia's largest Islamic organisation is divided between 'idealists' and 'opportunists'.

Jakarta (AsiaNews) – A rift is in danger of splitting Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia's largest Islamic organisation. The threat comes from former Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid, better known as Gus Dur, after Hasyim Muzadi was re-elected as NU leader.

A former NU leader himself, Gus Dur announced his intention to set up a new organisation. The 'new' NU would be an umbrella association for the current NU's 'cultural' members and would be inspired by the original principles of the organisation founded in 1926.

Gus Dur's proposal stems from his opposition to Muzadi's leadership, which the recent NU muktamar (convention) in Solo (central Java), reconfirmed.

Gus Dur had already threatened to leave the NU to form a separate organisation at the previous muktamar should Muzadi be re-elected.

Other NU spiritual leaders agree with Gus Dur in opposing Muzadi and his supporters, dubbed 'structural' members, for allegedly using the NU as a political tool to pursue personal agendas and their own economic interests. According to the former Indonesian President, Muzadi and his group are not 'morally clean'.

Gus Dur today refused to meet Muzadi in the NU's headquarters in Jakarta to discuss the issue.

For his part, Muzadi decline any comment about the rift between 'structural' and 'cultural' camps in the 40 million-strong NU. "The possibility of setting up a NU along the lines of 1926 is only a political issue," he said. "I doubt that Gus Dur will implement this controversial idea".

Mr Muzadi also refused to comment the possibility that Gus Dur's loyalists might 'seize' the NU's Jakarta office. "Don't ask me!" he said. "Ask Gus Dur!"

TAGs
Send to a friend
Printable version
CLOSE X
See also
In Indonesia, Muslim leaders express support for Pope Benedict XVI's appeal against terrorism
12/07/2005
Gus Dur against fundamentalist threat in Indonesia
02/08/2005
Muslims offering concrete help to bring reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas
23/10/2007
John Paul II, a preacher of peace, says Wahid
05/04/2005
Former Indonesian President against execution of three Catholics
14/04/2006


Newsletter

Subscribe to Asia News updates or change your preferences

Subscribe now
“L’Asia: ecco il nostro comune compito per il terzo millennio!” - Giovanni Paolo II, da “Alzatevi, andiamo”