Indonesia Times
Friday, 24-Oct-97 02:00:39 EDT

			NU congress to go on

 JAKARTA (Times) – The government has issued its permit for Nahdlatul
 Ulama to hold its national congress despite protest from the opposing
 group in the Islamic organization, an official says.

 Meanwhile, the opposing group in NU separately urged the government to
 postpone the congress.

 "NU has reported about the planned congress and we have permitted it,"
 said Director General for Social and Political Affairs of the Home
 Affairs Ministry Achdari.

 NU, led by Abdurrahman Wahid, plans to hold its national congress and
 Ulamas meeting in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara province next month.

 Leader of NU's opposing group, Abu Hasan, urged the government on
 Wednesday to postpone the congress considering the event is close to
 the MPR plenary session.

 "We are afraid the event will create internal disorder among NU members
 and it would harm the stability prior to the MPR plenary session,"
 Hasan told reporters at his house here.

 MPR, the people's consultative assembly, will hold its plenary session
 in March next year to elect President and vice President for 1998-2003
 term.

 Hasan was defeated by Wahid in NU's 1994 congress that re-elected his
 rival as the organization leader for another term.

 He, later, set up opposing central board beyond Wahid's leadership and
 claimed himself as the chairman.

 The government, however, only recognizes NU led by Wahid who is popular
 with his nickname Gus Dur.

 Responding to Hasan's protest, Achdari reiterated the government's
 stance reminding that the present NU board is the legal one.

 When asked about possible moves led by Hasan to disturb the November's
 congress, Achdari warned that the security apparatus will save the
 event.

 "I do not think they will do that, and we expect they will not do that
 far," he told press at the ministry office here.

 He also said the NU meeting has nothing to do with the MPR plenary
 session stability reminding national commitment to support the session.

 Responding to NU split leadership, Achdari said that the government "is
 not too worry about it and does not see it as a serious threat".

 "It is only a romance in a democratic life," he said adding that the
 government would not intervene in the internal dispute.

 Organization's agenda

 NU secretary general Achmad Bagdja separately said that the
 organization has prepared for the meeting to be held from Nov. 17 to 21 as 
 it is the organization's agenda.

 "If, suddenly, certain parties want the congress to be postponed, then
 they must be questioned," he said.

 He said the coming national congress will be attended by all leaders of
 NU's boarding schools, experts and the state officials. About the venue
 of the congress, Bagdja reminded that Mataram is also part of
 Indonesia.
 
 "All this time people always question why big events always held in
 Java. Now we want to hold in outside Java," he said. He also reminded that
 Hasan's leadership is not supported by NU followers particularly in
 rural places.

 Hasan who held special press conference at his house on Wednesday also
 questioned the congress which will be held in a remote area in outside
 Java.

 "I do not believe it, why it is held in a remote area. What do they
 want? Are they going to hold a secret meeting," he said.

 "NU followers only recognize the central board resulted from the
 Cipasung congress," he said. Wahid is not available for comment as he is
 reported to have overseas journey to Israeli.