Pancasila as Certain Choice for NU

As the country’s largest Muslim organization, NU has all of the time regarded Pancasila as the state foundation and ideology as well. Since the establishment of the beloved Republic of Indonesia, NU has agreed to accept Pancasila as a state ideology. It constitutes the best choice having ever been made by Indonesians. For it contains not only substantive religious values but also the very deeply expression rooted from the Nusantara’s culture.

From its process of formulation, Pancasila has appropriately lived up to the line of thought of NU, connecting religious values to empirical reality, as an effort to appreciate existing traditions and cultures. NU has not wanted both religion and established governmental system to come undone from religious values and yanked out from cultural roots. For the equality of its method and philosophy, NU has still considered Pancasila as the best final choice rather than forcibly chosen or the worst choice.

NU again is not the same as such groups have recently come into existence. Many people and groups have not formerly mentioned the word of Pancasila, and have even been opposed to nationhood insight. They then so-called as liberals (groups), that have just recognized the Declaration of Independence or Universal Declaration of Human Right and have asserted the choice of theirs to Pancasila. For them, Pancasila has not been the best, but bad choice of the worst.

For them, again, Pancasila has not a worthy fate, but caused by such a pressure to confirmation of the recently Islamic syariat, in local and national scale. Those whose islamphobia have immediately tended to react by campaigning Pancasila as the joint way of life. Thus, their position and interests protected by the pruralistic Pancasila. So their choice of Pancasila has been based on the principle of akhofu dloruraini (easier choice between two risky dangers). For them, Pancasila has not been as hazardous as Islamic syariat, so they tend to choose Pancasila as the little risk that might be overcome by manipulating and amending it next time.

Pancasila and the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) regarded as tactic choice rather than truly one. Nonetheless, Pancasila contains principles that may restrict their liberal appetites. It also regarded as such a principle inappropriate with Basic Law they have amended. By the time they reinstate Pancasila, they will also amend it in accordance with the very liberal Basic Law (UUD). Pancasila, again, has strived to maintain deliberation system and call for justice, as such a principle they have rejected.

Dealing with NU group, while Pancasila used by the New Order to stigmatize other groups, NU undoubtedly asserted Pancasila as joint way of life that should have been supported by such values of humanity and justice. That’s why, while the process of nation’s disintegration remains threaten, NU, again and again, affirms its commitment to Pancasila and the integration of the state of the Republic of Indonesia. NU has no fear to islamist groups or worry about liberal groups, but it regards Pancasila as the certain choice for its substance.

Pancasila constitutes a middle path between liberalism, communism and Islamism as its approval in the initially formulation. While the middle path turned by Islamists, campaigning the establishment of Islamic state, and seculars, willing Indonesia a liberal state by amending as many constitutions as possible, NU again straightens out, upholds, and reaffirms its commitment to Pancasila and the 1945 constitution.

The affirmation is not only from the Executive Council, but also from Advisory Council of the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU), as asserted by KH Ma’ruf Amin that if NU facing such a choice Islamic State or Pancasila, NU will firmly assert to again choose Pancasila as a State’s Ideology. Pancasila constitutes the best nation destination and the best choice. Its existence should be preserved to cover the emerging diversity. General Chairman of PBNU KH Hasyim Muzadi also says the same issue before the Central and Regional Boards of NU.

Eventually, it’s clear the distinction between NU other groups in understanding Pancasila. For NU Pancasila is a philosophical and even ideological fate. But for others (communist, Islamist, liberal) Pancasila is only a tactic choice, that might purposefully be changed being such a new foundation in accordance with their political aspiration. So the demand of liberalism, Islamism, or even communisms recently tends to emerge. At the same time NU still preserves its choice that the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI), based on the Pancasila is the final fate. We Indonesians just realize its commitment in our daily life.

(Abdul Mun’im DZ)