... We certainly will support a candidate who embodies Indonesian Islamic vision and mission... "Wonosobo, Central Java (ANTARA News) - Ansor, the youth wing of one of Indonesia's largest Islamic organizations Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), has pledged to support only those presidential candidates who are NU cadres in the election on July 9.
Ansor will support "not an NU instant cadre or the one claiming to come from NU but the one who is real NU, whose father or mother used to have positions in NU. God willing, it will be there," Ansor general chairman Nusron Wahid said here on Saturday.
He made the statement after the opening of the conference of the Central Java regional chapter of Ansor in the Al Quran Science University by Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo.
His statement followed the recent statement of NU general chairman Said Aqil Siradj that he will support Prabowo in the election.
Prabowo, who is a former Army Special Forces commander, is the presidential candidate of the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra).
Regarding Siradjs statement, Nusron said it was his personal statement but he believed NU members, including Ansor members, are smart and already have their own choice.
He said NU and Ansor members cannot be driven towards electing a certain candidate, moreover someone who claims to be a NU member or who has no clear NU background.
"Ansor will not give any recommendation as we have no right to issue it, but we certainly will conduct political efforts based on ideology," he remarked.
Nusron said Ansor certainly wishes to choose a presidential duo, who has strong nationalism and nationalist spirit.
"We certainly will support a candidate who embodies Indonesian Islamic vision and mission," he added.
Reporter: Heru Suyitno
Editor: Ade P Marboen
Copyright © ANTARA 2014
