Jakarta, NU Online
The Indonesian Army Chief of Staff Gen. Budiman visited the headquarters of Nahdlatul Ulama, the country's largest Muslim organization, Jln. Kramat Raya 164, Central Jakarta on Tuesday (1/4). <>

Budiman and his entourage were received by the General Chairman of NU KH Said Aqil Siroj (Kang Said), accompanied by some NU executive board members and representatives of 11 Islamic organizations.

"We along with some crews who will be in charge of securing the (upcoming general) elections," said the four-star general while introducing five Army leaders that come along with him.

According to the best of the military academy’s 1978 class, his presence is to ensure that the 2014 general elections will expectedly run safely and smoothly, saying the military was obliged to take part in helping secure the much-awaited elections.

"Our visit to NU is also an effort to make the democratic party run smoothly," he said, adding that the military would remain neutral and not be contaminated by political interests.

On that occasion, the man awarded the Adhi Makayasa medal said that NU was one of the core strengths of the state in defending and maintaining the integrity of the Unitary State of Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

Meanwhile, Kang Said said Islamic organizations like NU had played an important role in dealing with many conflicts of interest that exist in Indonesia.

"We are grateful that there are still mass organizations. In the Middle East, there are only political and ethnic groups so it is prone to conflict," he said.

Related to the the 2014 general elections, NU has appealed to its followers (Nahdliyin) to participate and use their voting right. Like the military, NU is committed to remaining neutral and will not take side with certain political parties.

"NU has always appealed to its followers to use (their) political rights. Although until now there have still some saying that the election is so-called togut, respecting the red - white flag was shirk, and others. For NU all this is not the case. NU has been part of the state, even is the founder of the state," Kang Said said.

Editing by Sudarto Murtaufiq