Welcome Guest   |  Login   |   Signup
JG Logo
Sat, May 26, 2012
Archive Search

Nahdlatul Ulama Denies Role in Movement to Topple Indonesian President
October 16, 2010

Share This Page
0
0
0
1
Share with google+ :


Post a comment
Please login to post comment

Comments

BajingLoncat
7:42pm Oct 16, 2010

The head of Nahdlatul Ulama is Ahmad Sahal Mahfudh. Slamet Effendi Yusuf is the organization's deputy head.

  • Previous
  • 1
  • Next

Indonesia. The country’s largest Islamic organization, the 40 million-member Nahdlatul Ulama, has denied being behind a recent movement seeking to unseat the president.

“We confirm that Nahdlatul Ulama does not agree with, and would not be involved in, any unconstitutional movement,” NU head Slamet Effendy Yusuf said after meeting Vice President Boediono. “We disagree with any movement of this kind.”

He said Nahdlatul Ulama would always abide by the Constitution, which says the president can only be impeached under several strict conditions.

Several organizations, including Petisi 28, which has been an outspoken critic of the government, have threatened to hold massive street demonstrations on Wednesday, the first anniversary of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s inauguration to begin his second term in office.

They have called on the president to step down for what they say are his leadership failures.

Several national leaders have also taken the president to task for his perceived weak leadership and have demanded the government work more closely with community groups to resolve the plethora of problems facing the nation.

The call came during a discussion on Tuesday hosted by Muhammadiyah, the country’s second-biggest Islamic organization, and involving more than 20 prominent national figures.

Two days after the Muhammadiyah meeting, university students gathered at NU headquarters for a discussion, titled “Consolidation and Call for Action: SBY’s Government Has Failed.”

Slamet said the students only rented the venue and did not represent the opinion of NU. He said any unconstitutional attempt to oust the president would only harm the nation.

“The public will suffer losses,” Slamet said.

“As a people’s organization, we love the right way, the constitutional way.”

However, he said the NU expected the government, especially the president, to listen to the aspirations of the people. Camelia Pasandaran