NU Conflict Resolution Needs Independent and Independent Political Interest

Photo: Illustration of PBNU.(NU Online)

JAKARTA - Director of Indonesia Political Review (IPR), Iwan Setiawan, said that the conflict in the body of the General Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) is getting more complicated because it has been influenced by political interests and the interests of a handful of elites.

"This conflict of PBNU is getting weirder, because it has put forward political interests and the interests of a handful of elites. It is no longer talking about the welfare of the community," he said, Sunday, December 21.

He assessed that conflict is inevitable when a community organization is more prominent in political affairs, the struggle for interests, and economic resources. This condition, not excluded, can also occur in religious organizations.

"If community organizations have put forward political affairs, political interests, the scramble for money resources and others, then conflicts will certainly occur. Not excluding Islamic organizations such as NU," said Iwan.

According to him, in a conflict situation like the current one, NU needs the presence of a mediator who is truly independent and free from political interests and certain groups. "Then try to reform the parties in conflict," he added.

Iwan said that the effort to reform must be based on the main goal for the benefit of the NU organization and the welfare of the people, not the political interests of each party. He also saw that the closeness of the organization to power was often a trigger for internal conflicts among the elite.

"It's not a myth, yes, if an organization is close to power, especially if it sticks to power, then its elites will prioritize politics and after that, of course, conflicts will occur," he said.

Therefore, he suggested that PBNU take a distance from the interests of power and return to focusing on the role of keumatan. "My suggestion is that PBNU must let go of power and its interests and stay away. Focus on implementing keumatan programs as the founders of NU," added Iwan.