ID :
34847
Wed, 12/10/2008 - 11:47
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/34847
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CASTING VOTES IN ELECTIONS OBLIGATORY: NU CHAIRMAN
Jakarta, Dec 10 (ANTARA) - Members of Indonesia's largest Muslim organization (NU) should not become part of the 'Golput' group (people who refuse to cast their votes in elections) because exercising a voting right is an obligatory process, chairman of the Executive Board of NU (PBNU) Hasyim Muzadi said.
"Casting votes in general elections is a process of upholding the power of the state. In this context, it's obligatory for NU members to involve themselves in it," Muzadi said.
He said in the run up to the general elections in 1997, NU through the Lombok Ulemas forum actually had discussed the legal (religious) aspect of exercising a voting right in the elections.
"The problem of voting rights has been discussed. If there are people who hold a forum to discuss the matter from the religious point of view, maybe they are not informed of the Lombok forum," he said.
Muzadi made the remarks in response to the holding of a similar forum by NU and the National Awakening Party (PKB). The PKB was formed to accommodate the political aspirations of NU members.
He said that NU, however, would not prohibit its members from joining the 'golput' group if they were willing to do so because it concerned their respective political interest.
Chairman of the Legal Council of the National Awakening Party (PKB) Abdurrahman Wahid, who is also former president, called on PKB regional branches last month to boycott the legislative, regional representatives (DPD), presidential and vice presidential elections to be held next year.
The reason for the boycott, he said, was that the KPU only recognized the PKB executive board under Muhaimin Iskandar while the one under his leadership was not registered as the legitimate PKB that had the right to nominate would-be candidates with the KPU.
He was optimistic that his calls would be followed by his supporters. "All of the 420 units of PKB that have the right to take part in the elections will boycott the polls," he said.
"Casting votes in general elections is a process of upholding the power of the state. In this context, it's obligatory for NU members to involve themselves in it," Muzadi said.
He said in the run up to the general elections in 1997, NU through the Lombok Ulemas forum actually had discussed the legal (religious) aspect of exercising a voting right in the elections.
"The problem of voting rights has been discussed. If there are people who hold a forum to discuss the matter from the religious point of view, maybe they are not informed of the Lombok forum," he said.
Muzadi made the remarks in response to the holding of a similar forum by NU and the National Awakening Party (PKB). The PKB was formed to accommodate the political aspirations of NU members.
He said that NU, however, would not prohibit its members from joining the 'golput' group if they were willing to do so because it concerned their respective political interest.
Chairman of the Legal Council of the National Awakening Party (PKB) Abdurrahman Wahid, who is also former president, called on PKB regional branches last month to boycott the legislative, regional representatives (DPD), presidential and vice presidential elections to be held next year.
The reason for the boycott, he said, was that the KPU only recognized the PKB executive board under Muhaimin Iskandar while the one under his leadership was not registered as the legitimate PKB that had the right to nominate would-be candidates with the KPU.
He was optimistic that his calls would be followed by his supporters. "All of the 420 units of PKB that have the right to take part in the elections will boycott the polls," he said.
