Blontank Poer and Muhammad Nafik, Surakarta – Tensions ran high on the first day of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) congress here on Sunday as senior ulema at odds over the nomination of incumbent leader Hasyim Muzadi launched an open campaign for their respective candidates.
The pro-Hasyim camp led by Idris Marzuki from Lirboyo in Kediri, East Java, announced its official support for the incumbent's reelection bid shortly after the organization's five-day congress was opened by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the Donohudan Haj Dormitory, some 15 kilometers from Surakarta. Idris said Sahal Mahfudz, the current chairman of the powerful syuriah (lawmaking body) in the nation's largest Muslim organization should be reelected for a second five-year term.
Hours later, a rival camp held a separate conference to nominate former Indonesian president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, who chaired NU for 15 years until 1999, to replace Sahal. The group also nominated charismatic cleric and poet Mustofa "Gus Mus" Bisri as the NU new tanfidziyah (executive body) chairman. The election will cap the five-yearly congress on Thursday.
During the opening ceremony, Gus Dur along with his wife, Sinta Nuriyah, and daughter Zannuba Arifah Chafsoh led a rally at the congress by dozens of his supporters in protest against Hasyim's bid for reelection.
The protesters slammed the organizing committee for allegedly not inviting several senior clerics, who were all believed to be opponents of Hasyim, to the congress. They included Gus Dur's uncle Yusuf Hasyim, Abdullah Faqih from Langitan in Tuban, Ahmad Mas Subadar from Pasuruan, Muslim Rifa'i Imampuro, better known as Mbah Lim from Klaten, Mahfudz Ridwan from Salatiga, Mufid Mas'ud from Surakarta and Zainal Abidin from Krapyak in Yogyakarta.
Several of the clerics confirmed they had not been invited to the congress but this was denied by committee chairman Ahmad Bagdja.
The protesters marched to the Donohudan compound and were later stopped by Banser security guards at the gate. However, Gus Dur, his wheelchair ridden wife and daughter were allowed to enter. The noisy protest drew the attention of the more than 3,500 participants at the congress.
Gus Dur then took a seat at the back of the conference with other low-ranking participants. He left the event shortly after the opening ceremony ended.
The pro-Gus Dur faction is supported by a number of senior clerics – Nurul Huda Jazuli from Ploso in Kediri, Abdullah Abbas from Cirebon), Hamdan Cholid from Martapura in South Kalimantan, Sanusi Baco from South Sulawesi, Azis Amin from Jakarta, Zaenuddin Maftuhin from Rembang, Mahfud Sobari from Mojokerto, Hanif Muslich from Demak, Muhaiminan Gunardo from Parakan in Temanggung, Chotib Umar from Jember, Tuan Guru Turmudzi Badruddin from Lombok, and Mas Subadar from Pasuruan.
All the clerics publicly voiced their support for the Gus Dur-Gus Mus pairing during the congress. They also asked Gus Dur to resign as the chief patron of the NU-founded National Awakening Party (PKB) if elected in the congress, Muhaiminan said.
Rival clerics in support of Hasyim include Muchid Muzadi from Jember, Zainuddin Jazuli from Ploso, Kediri, Anwar Mansyur from Lirboyo, Masduki Mahfudz from Malang, Mutawakkil Alallah from Probolinggo, Mawardi from Langitan, Masruri Mughni from Brebes, Fawaid As'ad Syamsul Arifin from Situbondo and Ghafur from Lamongan.
"We have decided to weigh our backing for the reelection bids of Hasyim and Sahal in the congress," said Idris Marzuki, spokesman for the pro-Hasyim camp.
The two rival ulema factions have been embroiled in a bitter conflict after Gus Dur and his followers accused Hasyim of dragging the 40 million-strong NU into politics for his personal interests.
The accusations came as Hasyim stood as the running mate to former president and candidate Megawati Soekarnoputri in the recent presidential election without the endorsement of the PKB. Megawati, who lost to Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in the poll, helped oust Gus Dur from the presidency in 2001.