http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/congress-to-shape-future-of-indonesias-largest-muslim-organization/365278
March 23, 2010 Anita Rachman Islamic scholars from 50 countries are in Makassar to attend the 32nd congress of the NU. (Antara Photo/Yusran Uccang) Congress to Shape Future of Indonesia's Largest Muslim Organization Makassar. The pervasive thick cloud of clove cigarette smoke, the motley collection of sarongs and the faces of candidates staring back from an abundance of campaign banners all herald the start of Nahdlatul Ulama's national congress here today. The country's largest Muslim organization - comprising some 40 million members and supporters - has descended on the South Sulawesi capital to hold its 32nd congress, with the most important order of business being the election of a new chairman who will lead NU for the next five years. More than 4,500 delegates from across the country are taking part in the congress at the Haji Sudiang Lodge, where men and women have been separated into different dorms. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to officially open the proceedings today. Hafidz Usman, head of the NU congress committee, said the gathering, which closes on Sunday, would discuss a variety of topics, including how the group views wiretapping and the issue of online marriages. "People from many provinces have joined us here, from Papua, Manado, Ternate, West and Central Kalimantan, and of course our fellows from Java have arrived as well," Hafidz said on Monday. There have been growing calls from within the organization for it to end its involvement in politics and focus on its original mission: to provide grassroots spiritual, educational and social guidance to Muslims across the country. Hafidz said this year's congress would be the first without the late Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, who had led NU for 15 years before becoming the country's fourth president. "It was at the 1984 congress in Situbondo, East Java, when Gus Dur turned NU from a political force to a religious organization again," he said. "But look at NU now - many people want to politicize it, use it. I hope this will not happen anymore." But any move away from politics, where obedience to Muslim clerics and scholars is de rigueur, will depend on the next leader. Unlike past congresses, the battle for the NU chairmanship will be fierce this year, Hafidz said, pointing to the many colorful campaign banners plastered around the lodge. Running for the coveted position are clerics, religious scholars and career politicians. They include senior NU executives Sholahuddin Wahid, Masdar F Mas'udi, Ahmad Bagja and Said Agil Siradj; former Golkar Party legislator Slamet Effendy Yusuf; National Awakening Party (PKB) lawmaker Ali Maschan Moesa; and liberal Muslim intellectual Ulil Abshar Abdallah. Ulil said the incumbent chairman, Hasyim Muzadi, had not expressed interest in running for a third term, but was looking to head up the organization's advisory board. M Luthfi Abdul Hadi, a cleric from Malang, East Java, said that as at past congresses, smoking was an inescapable part of the proceedings. "I've quit smoking, but I understand why many still persist with the habit," he said. "It's because smoking somehow helps them think." "Our clerics, they are thinkers, they read many things - I think smoking helps them do that." Another congress trademark is the sarongs, the traditional dress of NU's mainly rural followers. Related articles Muslim Leader Laments Ignorance of Those Who Are Intolerant of Christians 11:00 PM 22/01/2010 Indonesia's Top Muslim Group Will Avoid Politics, Say NU Leadership Candidates 11:22 PM 14/03/2010 Indonesian Muslim Groups Rip Weak Policy Vs. Graft 10:28 PM 20/12/2009 Indonesian Muslim Leader Criticizes Swiss Vote for Ban on Minarets 12:56 PM 30/11/2009 Muslim Converts Take A Giant Leap Of Faith 7:08 PM 18/09/2009 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
