The importance of reaffirming national commitment

For NU history constitutes an important political base covering religious values that should be seeded. That is why NU’s social movement and political attitude strive to be both relevant and contextual. This is often misunderstood by academics and politicians so they tend to make misleading viewpoints. NU is accused of being opportunist, syncretic, traditional and so forth. Whereas the attitude reveals the truth after the running of the historical event due to the NU social and political attitude is based on historical experiences, religious values and norms as well as the guidance from the Almighty.

As one of the founders of the Republic of Indonesia, since the beginning NU has tried to be consistent with the nation started from the time of arranging constitution in which the Pancasila could then be born. NU has agreed that the nation is a nation-state and based on Pancasila. Through the attitude NU has admitted that the republic is legal. For that reason NU has never conducted rebellion as ever been conducted by other groups such as Darul Islam (DI), Revolutionary State of the Republic of Indonesia (PRRI), Madiun Rebellion, and so on. The absence of NU in the rebellion is most of the time accused of being opportunist and pro the government. Whereas the scene is the NU’s consistent attitude in upholding the nation unity that is jointly struggled for alongside the ideology, namely Pancasila.<>

When the issue of Islamic state came into being in early 1980s, NU reaffirmed that the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) based on the 1945 Constitution and Pancasila was the final form of the nation. Pancasila experience is considered as the manifestation of syaria. The affirmation was again and again voiced by the NU in 1990s when radical Islamic movements in the world came into existence. The NU then held a great meeting in Jakarta to reaffirm Pancasila as the nation’s ideology and reject the form of what called as Islamic state.

The commitment has not only been voiced but it has also been practiced by the NU, for instance, dealing with any conflict and tension between nationalists and Islamists. As the nationalist Muslim organization, NU has been able to bridge the tension so the nation’s life has remained in harmony. NU has also protected minority groups either ethnic or religion. The tolerance constitutes the principle of NU that is inherited by the saints (wali) bringing Islamic teachings in the country.

Dealing with the reform (era) obscuring all commitments, many groups have come with their own ideology; there are some pursuing the establishment of Islamic state, liberal state and even communist aspiration. Liberal-secular groups and Islamists have now fought against one another so their existence would tend to raise tension in everywhere. There are some intending a state based on Islamic syaria and some trying to implement Christian syaria and some another trying to impose Hindu’s values and so on. There are also some liberal capitalists pursuing to change almost all constitutions and nation’s legacies to be very pragmatic and capitalistic so they can make people fall in sufferings and make the nation paralyzed that would in turn make life anarchic.

The fact extremely makes NU ulema circles that have since the beginning tried to be such mediating players in the nation’s plural life. For that reason, NU would constantly appeal all parties to return to the first single voice alongside the nation was established. Yet the appeal is likely ignored by the emerging facts, namely social conflicts and the clash of ideology that some of the time occur in social level as well as in political level in parliament and executive. Seeing the facts, there is no way for ulema, amid the commemoration of the NU’s 82nd anniversary, but convincingly make fresh decision and call to bring the nation back to the first consensus by placing Pancasila as the foundation for the nation’s life.

The commitment of the Indonesia’s biggest Muslim organization is really important for it is not absolutely political ambition. Rather it is solely for the nation and state’s safety. Second, it is said that in the beloved country of ours there are no such groups having willingness and courage to place Pancasila as foundation for both the nation and organization. Even bureaucrats that formerly made Pancasila as weapon to discredit opponents have no courage to speak about Pancasila.

All this indicates that the NU’s attitude to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) and Pancasila was not both opportunistic and pragmatic but historic that the NU has taken part in struggling for the nation. It also has ideological foundation for Pancasila bringing values of divinity, nationality and based on people interests so the Pancasila should be defended with possibly remaining challenges and risks. The measure would always be taken while at the same time there are groups having no courage. The NU’s stand on the NKRI has actually never depended on ruling authorities but based on its own principles and views. All this is based on the principle al-I’timadu alannafsi asasun najahi (depending on self is the principle of success). To have courage means calculating precisely all challenges and risks. (Abdul Mun’im DZ)