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Govt intervention in NU national congress denied
"Everything runs its course": Former Constitutional Court chief justice Mahfud MD denies allegations of government interventions during the 33rd national congress of Nahdlatul Ulama in Jombang, East Java, last week
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Everything runs its course: Former Constitutional Court chief justice Mahfud MD denies allegations of government interventions during the 33rd national congress of Nahdlatul Ulama in Jombang, East Java, last week. (Kompas.com/Icha Rastika) (Kompas.com/Icha Rastika)
"Everything runs its course": Former Constitutional Court chief justice Mahfud MD denies allegations of government interventions during the 33rd national congress of Nahdlatul Ulama in Jombang, East Java, last week. (Kompas.com/Icha Rastika)
Senior Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) member Mahfud MD said on Sunday the political dynamics that occurred during the 33rd national congress (muktamar) of the largest Islamic organization in Indonesia was normal.
The former Constitutional Court chief justice added that he did not see any sign that the dynamics occurred because of interventions from parties outside the organization.
'I think there was no intervention from outside. There were only internal disagreements,' said Mahfud as quoted by kompas.com on Sunday.
During the organization's muktamar in Jombang, East Java, on Thursday, Said Aqil Siradj was re-elected as NU chairman for the period of 2015-2020.
Meanwhile, Ma'ruf Amin was elected as the NU supreme leader (rais aam) after noted cleric Mustofa 'Gus Mus' Bisri, who was earlier chosen for the position, decided to resign to prevent an internal split.
Mahfud also denied speculation that the government intervened during the congress. He said the government had instead supported the organizing of the mukktamar so that it ran smoothly, in line with mechanisms that had been determined.
'I didn't see any government intervention in the congress. It allowed NU to run its course,' said Mahfud.
He further said NU fully supported Indonesia's democracy as could be seen from the good grace of its members in accepting the results of the congress.
'That good grace means that they all respect the leaders elected in the congress,' said Mahfud. (ebf)(++++)
