ISLAM AND POLITICS

What Went Special With 82nd NU Anniversary?

On 31st January 2008, Nahdhatul Ulama (NU), the biggest Muslim organization in Indonesia will celebrate its 82nd birthday. In an e-mail sent to Komunitas Muda Nahdhatul Ulama (KMNU), a friend of mine asked why NU will celebrate its 82nd in a very peculiar manner.

This question appeared because in its peak celebration which will be held at Gelora Bung Karno on 3rd February, the organizer of this event claimed that it will be attended by more than 300 thousands of NU followers as reported by several media.

Although the question above seems to be a humorous question, for me, it should be taken seriously to be reflected. Why should number 82 be taken by NU as a very special celebration? Why not others? Don’t we usually celebrate a very special anniversary such as anniversary of wedding, anniversary of an influential figure or anniversary of institution when it turns 50, 70 or 100?

50th is usually celebrated as a golden year of an event. 70th is commonly held to celebrate a very special people who are successful in his life which is followed by publishing his/her memoir. And 100th is usually done to celebrate any centennial anniversaries.

At least two possible answers could be proposed which is related to the role of NU as a religious organization. First is NU role as a dakwah organization which intensively promotes cultural approaches in their dakwah. Second is a significant role of NU as a ‘political asset’ due to its huge number of followers in the country.

Role as Cultural Dakwah Machinery

A glorious celebration of NU anniversary by its follower around Indonesia during this month and its peak celebration in Gelora Bung Karno which will be attended by a huge NU followers, is of course not without reasons. It is not just for showing of their force indeed.

One of the objectives would be to show that NU who actively promotes cultural dakwah, cooperative with local culture, moderate in style and does not propose Islamic state in their dakwah, is still supported by huge followers of Indonesian Muslim. NU would like to show that this organization is still a mainstream of Indonesian Muslim. NU followers are still big, loyal and dominant. That is one of massages that can be shown to public by its special celebration.

It is currently well known that there are many movements both religious and political in Indonesia which could attract NU followers to turn away from NU. The khilafah (caliph) conference held by Hijbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) which promotes Islamic resurgence through khilafah, incessant approach of an Islamic party to NU followers, and appearance of ‘fake’ religious sects in Indonesia, are among problems that NU should deal with. NU who represents majority of Indonesian Muslim can not neglect these issues.

On 12th August 2007, HTI has successfully held its international conference called Konfrensi Khilafah International (KKI) which attended more than 100 thousands followers and sympathizers at Gelora Bung Karno. This event of course should become a concern of any religious organization in Indonesia, including NU, who against the idea of khilafah. Khilafah concept is totally in contrast with NU cultural dakwah approach which aggressively accommodate local culture and against an idea of Indonesian Islamic state.

Although the NU show of force is not specially proposed to compete with HTI followers who came to the same place last year, but at least the NU gathering, could be seen as a medium to show to the public that NU followers are also huge.

In his official instruction, Pengurus Besar Nahdhatul Ulama (PBNU) asked Pengurus Wilayah NU in Jakarta and West Java to mobilize NU followers to attend istighosah and ‘seruan moral’ (moral appeal), for Indonesian unity. This means that NU since its establishment is always concern with problems faced by the state particularly the problem of national unity and integrity. If Khilafah conference, appearance of radicalism, appearance of fake religious sects, is to be considered as a challenge for national unity, NU could be seen as a pioneer to counter this challenge.

Political Participation of NU

The second reason why NU shows its force could not be separated from the current high tension of Indonesian politics prior to 2009 election.

Although since the 27th Muktamar at Situbondo in 1984, NU has been instructed to return to 1926’s khittah that NU should not involve in real politics, the involvement of several NU leaders in real politics made people questioned whether NU has completely returned to 1926’s khittah. NU members who competed for regent, governor, and even presidential election are a proof of this argument.

The birth of Partai kebangkitan Bangsa (PKB) which finally led Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) to become Indonesian president, and Hasym Muzadi (who at that time until present is still holding chairman of PBNU) run for vice president candidacy have strengthen an assumption that NU has never completely returned to its 1926’s khittah.

Muzady’s nomination for vice president in 2004election has been commonly assumed as a preliminary condition of unharmonious relation between Gus Dur and Muzadi and for a broader context between PBNU and PKB. Thus, how should we interpret a huge attendance of NU followers in Gelora Bung Karno in a context of an unharmonious relationship between PBNU and PKB?

Several arguments could be proposed as alternative answers. Firstly, a huge gathering of NU followers could be taken as a good momentum for NU to insist their position to completely return to 1926’s khittah. NU could state explicitly that they will be neutral in the coming 2009 election.

Secondly, a mobilization of huge NU followers to its anniversary event could also be seen as NU’s strategy to improve their political bargaining in order political parties in Indonesia see how potential NU followers are. If it is so for whose political advantages is this? Is this for PKB’s benefit who has nominated Gus Dur as a presidential candidate for 2009 election) or it is for elites of PBNU’s benefit to improve their bargaining position in order to be nominated as vice president or even president?

Thirdly, the 82nd anniversary could be taken as a good momentum for political reconciliation (islah) between PBNU and PKB leading figures. If this reconciliation happens, it is a great advantage for NU followers to actively participate in coming election. But the problem is could this islah become reality? Because on the one hand, it will imply that NU should totally turn away from 1926’s khittah and return to politic, and on the other hand, PKB should give political compensation for PBNU leaders. Don’t we see that PKB itself has not completely solved the problem of its internal conflict?

Finally, whatever a declaration will be made by NU in its peak 82nd anniversary, we hope that NU can clear up their position and orientation to whether it will completely return to 1926’s khittah or will struggle through political approach and totally involve in real politics. For NU’s future, it may be not an exaggerated if in this momentum NU also wisely sees NU younger leaders to actively involve in NU’s struggle. Young NU potential members like Ulil Abshar Abdalla, who is undertaking PhD in Harvard, Nadirsyah Hosen, two PhDs holder and teach in Australia and other potential younger NU members would be better if they are asked to more actively involve in NU’s activities. Happy Birthday NU!

posted by Alin at 10:48 AM