'We have had an internal agreement that institutionally, our mass organization will not give any political support to candidates who will run for the presidency in the upcoming election,' Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU) chairman Said Aqil Siradj told journalists in Purwokerto on Sunday.

He encouraged NU's younger members to engage in the political struggles of the country. 'It's a different task and it's not part of PBNU official directives. Let them play a role independently and with maturity in this country,' he said.

He suggested that any support institutionally provided by NU to one or more political forces in Indonesia would only cause troubles for both the country and for the NU.

'We have long experienced that such neutrality is the most strategic position to help create a peaceful NKRI [the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia],' Said Aqil said.

He went on to say that since its establishment in 1926, NU has held to a vision of Islam that was tolerant and democratic, namely "ahlussunah wal jama'ah (Aswaja)".

He said this was the most suitable ideological principle to be applied in a country as diverse as Indonesia.

'NU does not agree at all and even strongly rejects any religious followers applying hard-line ideological principles, including Wahabbi movements that tend to force their ideological principles on the state,' said Said Aqil, adding that applying such hard-line principles would trigger ideological conflicts and threaten the unity of NKRI. (ebf)

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