Jakarta – The left-wing Peoples Democratic Party (PRD) and the nations biggest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) are to hold a joint rally against forces opposed to democracy.

PRD leader Budiman Sudjatmiko yesterday met with NU Chairman Hasyim Muzadi to discuss the agenda of the rally.

Budiman said there are clear indications that the old power and its anti-democracy groups may attempt to oust the democratically government. He said Muzadi is keen for NU and the PRD to join forces for the sake of upholding democracy.

The PRD and NU are to hold a joint massive rally. It will accommodate the non-governmental organizations, students and pro-democracy activists. It will aim to consolidate pro-democracy powers.

No date was given for the event. Budiman said he invited NU to join the rally, because Muzadi had recently declared 2001 to be the year of strictness. That means the pro-democracy groups have to take a strong stance against the old forces, which want to regain power.

The PRD leader, who was jailed by the regime of ex-president Soeharto on trumped up charges of subversion, said the old forces are making a bold and obvious threat to regain power.

Muzadi said that in some ways the PRDs ideas are similar to those of NU. We also want to find a way to thwart the attempts by the old power groups that want to eliminate the democracy process in Indonesia, he said.

Muzadi denied that he and Budiman had discussed the national