Police chief appreciates NU cadres

Jakarta, Pesantren Al-Amien Purwokerto. Police Chief General Tito Karnavian said that Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) had cadres engaged in various fields, ranging from agriculture to the government.

"There are many (NU cadres) having already served as president and ministers," said Tito when giving a speech in the exhibition of artwork created by leading artist Nabila Dewi Gayatri at the Jakartas Grand Syahid Jaya Hotel Monday (8/5).

Police chief appreciates NU cadres (Sumber Gambar : Nu Online)

Police chief appreciates NU cadres

Tito said that NU cadres had abilities outside the field of religion such as martial arts, artwork, and others. In fact, in the field of painting he admitted that the "NU cadre is superior to him."

"Today we witnessed how an NU cadre (Nabila Dewi Gayatri) turned out to have outstanding artistic abilities. If we look from the public eyes to judge if I was asked to make a painting like this, surely the NU cadre are more skillful than me," he said.

Pesantren Al-Amien Purwokerto

In the time, he also reminded attendees of the importance of ulema (Muslim scholars) in maintaining and preserving of the Unitary State of Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) and called on the younger generation to continue what they accomplished through their actions.

"Our young cadres do understand. These are the ulema who must be imitated. What is painted by Mrs Nabila is clearly the ulema having built the NKRI," he said, adding that NU and the government could continue to collaborate and support each other to keep the nations unity.

Pesantren Al-Amien Purwokerto

"Police and NU must not break. While these (two) elements are solid, the NKRI is safe," he asserted. (Muchlison Rochmat/Masdar)

Dari (National) Nu Online: http://www.nu.or.id/post/read/77782/police-chief-appreciates-nu-cadres

Pesantren Al-Amien Purwokerto

Indonesian pilgrims prepare to return home

Jakarta, Pesantren Al-Amien Purwokerto. Indonesian pilgrims are preparing to return home after performing the jumrah a stoning of the devil ritual and the last major haj practice, which had taken lives in the past.

Religious Affairs Ministry spokesperson Rosidin Karidi told The Jakarta Post on Friday that all Indonesian pilgrims were in their respective hotels after finishing the ritual on Thursday afternoon, Saudi Arabian time.

Indonesian pilgrims prepare to return home (Sumber Gambar : Nu Online)

Indonesian pilgrims prepare to return home

After performing the jumrah, all pilgrims returned back to their hotels on buses. Half of them are now waiting for their return flights to Indonesia, while the rest will go to Medina first to perform the mandatory Arabian prayers, he said.

The stoning ritual is the last major activity of the pilgrimage and is often regarded as the most dangerous part of the haj, as it involves large crowds, confined spaces and tight scheduling.

Pesantren Al-Amien Purwokerto

Pesantren Al-Amien Purwokerto

Last year, a stampede claimed more than 2,400 lives during the stoning ritual, 129 of whom were Indonesian.

The tragedy has the Indonesian haj committee on alert over the need to strengthen supervision during the ritual. This year, the committee deployed 3,250 personnel to ensure safety and to keep the pilgrims in line with the strict rules consensually agreed upon in order to prevent another calamity.

This year, most Indonesian pilgrims were very disciplined in following the instructions for the ritual. They carefully went through the Mina underground tunnel, which is equipped with an escalator to ease the passage of the pilgrims, he said.

He said the committee had intensively conducted an awareness campaign ahead of the stoning ritual to make sure that participants followed all instructions given by the authorities in a bid to avoid any unwanted incidents. We have assigned security personnel to specifically ensure that all pilgrims remain in order, he said.

Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saefuddin said he was grateful that the process ran according to plan.

Thank God that the stoning the devil process ran smoothly. We have to be grateful for this, he told reporters after observing the ritual in Mecca on Wednesday.

This year, Indonesia, the worlds most populous Muslim-majority nation, sent 154,441 pilgrims, the largest quota among participating countries.

Each Muslim is obliged to perform the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime, provided they are physically fit and financially able.

The minister said that, overall, this years haj was better executed as compared to last year. He cited punctuality of air and land transportation and quality of catering services.

He added that some services still needed to be improved. We have to develop services, particularly in Mina and Arafah, because the peak of the haj is in these two cities. We need to improve air conditioning and to provide better shelters for our pilgrims." (JP/Masdar)

Dari (National) Nu Online: http://www.nu.or.id/post/read/71324/indonesian-pilgrims-prepare-to-return-home

Pesantren Al-Amien Purwokerto

NU, Muhammadiyah participate in securing Christmas celebrations

Semarang, Pesantren Al-Amien Purwokerto. The countrys two largest Islamic organizations, Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), are ready to deploy volunteers to work alongside police personnel to provide security ahead of and during Christmas and New Years Eve celebrations in Semarang, Central Java.

The Semarang-chapter Muhammadiyah central executive board said it would deploy 30 members of its security taskforce -- the Muhammadiyah Youth Readiness Command (Korkam)-- to help police secure Christmas and New Years Eve festivities in areas across the city.

NU, Muhammadiyah participate in securing Christmas celebrations (Sumber Gambar : Nu Online)

NU, Muhammadiyah participate in securing Christmas celebrations

The head of Semarang-chapter Pemuda Muhammadiyah, the youth wing of the countrys second biggest Muslim organization, AM Jumai, said the Korkam personnel would be on guard at security posts they had established in 15 locations across the city.

Pesantren Al-Amien Purwokerto

We have coordinated with related parties such as the National Police, government officials and religious leaders, Jumai said in Semarang on Monday.

Pesantren Al-Amien Purwokerto

The security posts have been established at several strategic points, including the Tugu Muda area, Jl. Admodirono, Jl.MT Haryono and Jl.Gajahmada.

Jumai said his organization was also cooperating with Barisan Ansor Serbaguna (Banser), the NU security task force, which routinely deployed its members to participate in the securing of Christmas and New Years Eve celebrations.

Separately, Central Java Police spokesperson Sr.Comr.Liliek Darmanto said the National Police, with support from the Indonesian Military, would hold a security operation codenamed Operasi Lilin 2014 (Operation Candle) to provide security during Christmas and New Years Eve festivities.

The operation is expected to take place for 10 days between Dec.24 and Jan.2. We have carried out preparations, including holding a coordination meeting with parties involved in the operation, said Liliek as quoted by The Jakarta Post.

Thousands of key places such as churches, ports, airports, train stations, banking centers, malls and tourist destinations across the city will be safeguarded.

According to the Central Java Polices Operation Bureau, Central Java has 2,814 churches, comprising 2,337 Protestant churches and 477 Catholic churches, 194 tourist destinations, 232 shopping malls, one seaport, 69 train stations and three airports.

The police said Operation Candle was aimed at ensuring a safe and peaceful situation ahead over the Christmas and New Year period, while at the same time anticipating crime threats that had continued to expand.

From January to October this year, crime was on the increase, especially vehicle theft, robbery and arson.

Editing by Sudarto Murtaufiq

Dari (National) Nu Online: http://www.nu.or.id/post/read/56512/nu-muhammadiyah-participate-in-securing-christmas-celebrations

Pesantren Al-Amien Purwokerto

Gus Sholah regrets parties for plastering Gus Durs posters irresponsibly

Jombang, Pesantren Al-Amien Purwokerto. The leader of Tebuireng Islamic boarding school (pesantren) KH Salahuddin Wahid well known as Gus Sholah regretted any certain legislative cadidates and polititical parties for plastering posters of the late KH Abdurrahman Wahid for their political campaigns.

The younger brother of Gus Dus Dur also urged the legislative hopefuls and political parties to act responsibly in advertising themselves by plastering the Gus Durs pictures ahead of the 2014 elections.

Gus Sholah regrets parties for plastering Gus Durs posters irresponsibly (Sumber Gambar : Nu Online)

Gus Sholah regrets parties for plastering Gus Durs posters irresponsibly

"No more sweeping on the pictures (of Gus Dur) and the like," Gus Sholah told reporters here on on Thursday (26/12).

Gus Sholah deplored the unilateral action taken by local residents in a number of cities in East Java such as Surabaya and Jombang, saying such action could cause possible conflicts and tensions in society.

Pesantren Al-Amien Purwokerto

Pesantren Al-Amien Purwokerto

Concerning the pictures of Gus Dur placed by political parties which will contesting in the 2014 elections, Gus Sholah called on all parties to exercise restraint, refrain from violence and and "resolve the matter through legal channels."

During the election campaign, candidates will stick election material including posters, photos and papers on public and private buildings, indiscriminately across the cities.

Editing by Sudarto Murtaufiq

Dari (National) Nu Online: http://www.nu.or.id/post/read/49049/gus-sholah-regrets-parties-for-plastering-gus-dur039s-posters-irresponsibly

Pesantren not shaping radicals

Sukabumi, Pesantren Al-Amien Purwokerto. Coordinating minister for peoples welfare Agung Laksono has refuted the allegation that Islamic Boarding Schools or Pondok Pesantren have helped shape radical groups, Antara news agency reported.

"Such bad image should be changed as it is not true that Pondok Pesantren (Ponpes) shape the radical groups," the minister confirmed when visiting two of the Islamic Boarding Schools here on over the weekend, adding the Ponpes on the contrary have improved the education.

Pesantren not shaping radicals (Sumber Gambar : Nu Online)

Pesantren not shaping radicals

Absolutely the Ponpes develop education in Indonesia because the pesantren do not only teach lesson materials relating to life on earth but the eschatology as well, so the Ponpes graduates have more advantages than the school graduates in general.

Pesantren Al-Amien Purwokerto

In addition, the Islamic Boarding School constitutes the oldest educational institution in Indonesia, so it is considered as the embryo of educational activities in the country, he asserted.

Therefore, any negative image addressed to the pesantren should be changed, because the Ponpes graduates can be superior, he said.

"Participation of the Ponpes can raise the educational quality in the country, so the recent negative image about the Islamic Boarding Schools to shape radical figures is totally wrong," the minister disclosed.

Pesantren Al-Amien Purwokerto

According to him, actually the Islamic Boarding Schools are playing a role to unite the people and showing an example in leading to the religious tolerance.

Apart from that, the Ponpes are also creating a program that teaches interfaith harmony among religious communities, Minister Laksono added.

Editor : Sudarto Murtaufiq

Dari (National) Nu Online: http://www.nu.or.id/post/read/40284/pesantren-not-shaping-radicals

Pesantren Al-Amien Purwokerto

NU told to disseminate peaceful Islamic values internationally

Lamongan, Pesantren Al-Amien Purwokerto. Nahdliyin (NU followers) called on Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) as the Indonesias largest Muslim organization to both disseminate and propagate peaceful Islamic values internationally in dealing with any possible conflicts and tensions among fellow Muslims.

"We Nahdliyin do appreciate the brilliant steps taken by NU in internationalize its teachings to boost peace and harmony for the world that has been lttered fully with conflicts among fellow Muslims, especially in the Middle East," Deputy Chairman of the Lamongan chapter of NU, KH Ahmad Suyuthi, told Pesantren Al-Amien Purwokerto here on Tuesday (14/06).

NU told to disseminate peaceful Islamic values internationally (Sumber Gambar : Nu Online)

NU told to disseminate peaceful Islamic values internationally

According to the clric popularly known as Abah Suyuthi, the emergence of so-called Jakarta Declaration is such a strategic step in promoting what is called Islam Nusantara that is a moderate form of Islam and is the best for being capable of holding a dialog with local cultures.

The teachings of Islam maintained and preserved by NU could be a good model for the world in upholding peaceful values since it merged the concepts of Islam and nationalism as key factors to defect the integrity and unity of a country.

Pesantren Al-Amien Purwokerto

As reported by NU news portal, Pesantren Al-Amien Purwokerto, the Jakarta Declaration was the outcome of the two-day International Summit of Moderate Islamic Leaders (ISOMIL), organized by NU with the aim of presenting solutions to conflicts considered to have emerged from a misinterpretation of Islamic teachings.

Pesantren Al-Amien Purwokerto

According to the declaration, the misinterpretation itself is the cause of the prolonged conflict in the Middle East, where some governments use religious teachings as the base of their political legitimacy, which has given rise to religious extremism.

Besides, economic and political injustice that brought poverty to some Islamic countries had been used by extremist groups as one of their reasons for unleashing their terror, the declaration states, which then led to a wrong concept of jihad executed by these groups. (Masdar)

Dari (National) Nu Online: http://www.nu.or.id/post/read/68986/nu-told-to-disseminate-peaceful-islamic-values-internationally

Pesantren Al-Amien Purwokerto

Asad Said Ali : NU is not governments seal

Surabaya, Pesantren Al-Amien Purwokerto. Deputy general chairman of the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) H. Asad Said Ali said he would remain proportional to assess the performance of government, adding that NU supported some government programs, but in some ways NU remained critical of government policies that are not pro-people.

The statement was made by Asad in a seminar on "Keeping Indonesias Cultural Entities amidst Liberalization and Information-Communication Disclosure" in the hall of the East Javas Regional Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PWNU), JL Al Akbar mosque, Surabaya on Saturday (8/9).

Asad Said Ali : NU is not governments seal (Sumber Gambar : Nu Online)

Asad Said Ali : NU is not governments seal

At the seminar that is part of the NUs Pre-National Conference and Large Conference activities 2012, Asad dismissed the notion of a seminar participant who said "NU in this period is not too critical of the government, and even appears to be merely the governments seal.

"The assessment that NU is pro-government organization or simply the (government) stamp is just an impression. It may be concluded from the statements of some NU board members," he said.

Pesantren Al-Amien Purwokerto

According to Asad, the NU board members made the statement personally instead of making it as at NU meetings.

"Sometimes the statement has not been discussed yet. We are human in which mistakes and negligence are part of mans nature (mahallul Khoto wan nisyan)," he said.

Pesantren Al-Amien Purwokerto

Asad said, NU attitudes were actually represented by NU Rais Aam (general chairman of lawmaking body) KH Sahal Mahfud as supreme leader of NU.

"What becomes a reference in NU is Rais Aam," he said, adding that the Ulema National Conference and the NU Large Conference that will be held in Cirebon on 14-17 September would criticize the governments products of legislation and policy. "This is in accordance with the instructions of the Rais Aam of NU."

Writer : A. Khoirul Anam

Editor : Sudarto Murtaufiq

Dari (National) Nu Online: http://www.nu.or.id/post/read/39602/as039ad-said-ali--nu-is-not-government039s-039seal039

Pesantren Al-Amien Purwokerto