As Long As It's Not Gus Dur: When The Nation's Teacher Wants To Be Evicted From The Position Of Chair Of PBNU

Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur)'s popularity among NU is timeless. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) was once an opponent of Suharto's power and the New Order (Orba). The general chairman of the 1984-1999 Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board is like an allergy to injustice. He directly defended the small people who were trampled by the authorities.

This role made Gus Dur's power in NU shaken by the New Order authorities. The Nation's teacher wants to be evicted procedurally through the NU Congress. This narrative made Gus Dur's rejection campaign as Chairman of PBNU echo: As long as Gus Dur (ABG).

Gus Dur is a figure who can't stand still when he sees injustice in Indonesia. The grandson of Hasyim Asy'ari did not hesitate to criticize and criticize the Soeharto and New Order governments. Sometimes also criticism is directed at Muslims themselves.

He once shouted that Muslims should not be indifferent to the corrupt behavior of New Order officials in 1979. Gus Dur considered the ignorant attitude of Muslims as a disaster. The damage caused by corruption can disturb people's lives.

Gus Dur's criticality is unstoppable. Take for example when Gus Dur rose to become chairman of PBNU from 1984. Gus Dur slowly changed the direction of NU as a large Islamic organization in Indonesia. He tried to bring NU not to lean towards the politics of the authorities.

He led NU to lean towards the people who were trampled on by the authorities. Once the New Order did injustice, NU immediately went down to help the community. He often plunges to help people who are oppressed.

This picture can be seen in Gus Dur NU's alignment with the people in the case of the construction of the Kedung Ombo Reservoir in 1984. The construction of reservoirs located in three districts in Central Java was 'Sragen, Boyolali, and Grobogan' the New Order government forced.

The public is asked to move immediately. Also small compensation. Those who do not want to move are branded as sympathizers of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI). The terror was considered painful. Moreover, the New Order deliberately decided on access to the villages that refused.

Gus Dur did not remain silent. He came to provide assistance. Gus Dur even helped voice the Kedung Ombo case in order to get national and international attention.

Gus Dur suggested that a number of friends in the Ornop (Non-governmental Organization: NGOs) write to the World Bank and give him an outline of their concern and ask him to show greater responsibility in managing such projects. Although this letter is Gus Dur's initiative, the shape eventually differs slightly from what has been described, because his words are tougher and personally critical of Suharto.

Therefore, Suharto demanded Gus Dur apologize, and Gus Dur fulfilled it after he went before Suharto to speak about the letter. However, this incident made many critics of Gus Dur in NU openly question it, not Gus Dur, who will later become a kind of wild cannon that will endanger the safety of all NU citizens, "concluded Greg Burton in the book Biography of Gus Dur (2013).

The noise of Gus Dur disturbed Suharto and the New Order. On the one hand, Gus Dur is seen as having the potential to disrupt national stability. On the other hand, Gus Dur's attitude is considered to be disturbing the safety of all NU residents.

The New Order began to play with its power to tackle Gus Dur from the position of Chairman of PBNU. The New Order seemed cautious. The owner of power does not want to be frontal. However, the New Order is planning to provide support to anyone who beats Gus Dur in the NU Congress.

Gus Dur tried to be tackled at the NU Cilacap Congress in 1987. However, Gus Dur was still able to be elected. Gus Dur kept quiet. This condition made the New Order look at the Cipasung NU Congress in 1994. Gus Dur's desire to bring down was more measurable and serious.

Gus Dur's political opponents who were supported by the New Order led to a campaign: As long as Gus Dur or ABG. This means that anyone can become a PBNU leader, as long as it is not Gus Dur. The campaign was increasing weeks before the Cipasung Mukmatar was held in December 1994.

The New Order's accomplices did not remain silent. They tried to approach many NU branch administrators. They tried to accommodate the name of the challenger Gus Dur, Abu Hasan. The figure who was considered not very popular with the Nahdlatul Ulama.

In particular, towards the Cipasung Congress, the name Abu Hasan skyrocketed and even almost defeated Gus Dur. Again, Gus Dur's popularity was difficult to stop. Gus Dur won again and continued his position as Chairman of PBNU until 1999. New Order never really managed to get rid of Gus Dur.

The ABG movement at the Cipasung Congress turned out to have much greater strength when compared to the movement in Yogyakarta. This can be seen from the link to the vote acquisition that is not too far between Gus Dur's supporters (174) and Abu Hasan's supporters (142). )

The fact that the link to the vote between Gus Dur and Abu Hasan came as a surprise to all parties. How come? So far Abu hasan is not known in the NU environment. The question is, why does Abu Hasan suddenly seem so suddenly popular? As mentioned above, Gus Dur's efforts to tackle Gus Dur's leadership cannot be separated from political interests. His opponents did not stand alone, but instead received support from state officials," said Andre Feillard in Gus Dur's crazy book (2000).