Page 340 - INDONESIAN ISLAMIC CULTURE IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES

NU. In addition to the political aspect, time Mahbub was still an HMI activist.
sociological conditions also give the
impetus to the growing numbers of
the educated group of the NU. The
first organization emerged within
the educated group of NU is Ikatan
Pelajar Nahdlatul Ulama (the Nahdlatul
Ulama Students’ Bond, IPNU) that was
established in 1954 to accommodate
both high school and the university
students. Several attempts to establish
university student organizations
had been conducted such as by the
establishment of Ikatan Mahasiswa
Nahdlatul Ulama (the Nahdlatul Ulama
University Students’ Bond, IMANU)
and Keluarga Mahasiswa Nahdlatul
Ulama (The Nahdlatul Ulama Students
Fellowship, KMNU) that was established
in 1955. However, the extant student
organizations received lack of support
from the leadership of NU, because
those organizations were feared to
undermine the newly established IPNU.
After the condition of IPNU was strong
enough, the 1960 IPNU conference
in Yogyakarta confirmed the need for
student organizations. Furthermore, in
April 1960 PMII was formally established
in Surabaya with Mahbub Djunaidi as the
chairman, Khalid M. Al-Mawardi as the
vice chairman, and M. Said Budairy as
the general secretary. Actually, at that
330 Indonesian Islamic Culture in Historical Perspectives
organization under NU. It was an effort to
However, the establishment of PMII
which is basically the act of desertion of
the students affiliated to NU, by which
PMII was then considered by HMI as
“treason” against the decision of the
1949 Muslim Congress. Therefore, some
PMII leaders such as Mahbub Djunaidi,
were then expeled from HMI. 35
Mahbub confirmed that the establishment
of PMII was due to the fact that HMI
could not accommodate the aspirations
of the students leaning to the Islamic
traditionalist group (Ahlus Sunnah wal
Jamaah). Although the establishment
36
of PMII was a reflection of dissatisfaction
felt by some parts of the HMI members,
but the establisment of PMII cannot be
separated from the endorsement of NU
as the parent organization.
As its name implies, PMII was expected
to become a dynamic and open
organization. The name “movement” is
expected to accommodate the dynamic
aspirations of the young intellectuals.
The organization deliberately abstained
from using the name “NU” such as
previously attached to some student
35. Latif, Inteligensia Muslim danKuasa,…p. 435.
36. Further see an interview with Mahbub in http:// 37. Latif, Inteligensia Muslim danKuasa,…p. 434. tribunnews.com/ nasional/2014/01/16/kelompok-
pmiigadjahmada.wordpress.com/ 2013/04/07/
sejarah-pasang-surut-hubungan-pmii-dan-hmi/
(being accessed on April 18, 2014).
way of joining into the 1966 Kesatuan Dakwah Management
make PMII as an open organization to all Aksi Mahasiswa Indonesia dan Kesatuan Training in Salman
groups, especially to the people whose Aksi Pemuda Pelajar Indonesia (the Mosque at the Bandung
aspirations have not been channeled Indonesian Student Action Union and Institute of Technology
within HMI. The establishment of the the Indonesian Youths-Student Action Source: Documentation
progressive students organization was Union, KAMI-KAPPI), PMII was also Salman Mosque ITB
a way to shape the resilient character of actively involved in expelling PKI from
the Muslim students so they would be of the Indonesian soil. However their
able to contribute something positive to dependence on NU made PMII become
the nation. less independent as they could not join
Along with the growth of the educated the Cipayung Group that consisted
39
groups in Indonesia, PMII managed to of HMI, GMNI, GMKI, and PMKRI. The
grow and develop rapidly. The massive dependency of PMII was not only in terms
participation of the traditionalist students of the organizational matter, but also in
to PMII helped to accelerates the growth
of organization. In the late 1960s, PMII 39. The Cipayung group is a communication
forum for extra-university student organizations
had reached thousands of members that are independent and free from any kinds of
most of the were IAIN students. In cooptation of political parties. The initiators of
37
1961 PMII Congress was attended by this group are Akbar Tanjung (at that time the
chairman of HMI), Kris Siner Key Timu (at that
13 branches, still being dominated by time Chief Presidium PMKRI) and BinsarSianipar
branches in Java and Sumatra, while the (at that time chairman of GMKI). Cipayung group
has high loyalty to the Indonesian state-nation.
2 PMII Congress in Yogyakarta was Now it develops Cipayung Group Plus comprises
nd
attended by 31 branches including those HMI, GMNI (Gerakan Mahasiswa Nasional
of Kalimantan and Sulawesi. 38 Indonesia), PMKRI (Persatuan Mahasiswa Katolik
Republik Indonesia), PMII, IMM (Ikatan Mahasiswa
Muhammadiyah), KAMMI (Kesatuan Aksi
The national spirit of PMII was also Mahasiswa Muslim Indonesia), GMKI (Gerakan
evident in the organization’s commitment
Mahasiswa Kristen Indonesia), Hikmahbudhi
to the state affairs. In addition to engaging (Himpunan Mahasiswa Buddhis Indonesia, KMHDI
into the political transformation process (Kesatuan Mahasiswa Hindu Dharma Indonesia).
from the Old Order to the New Order by Up to now, Cipayung group is still active in meeting
and issuing statements for the democratization
process for better Indonesia. See http://www.
38. http://misbahulmanaf.blogspot.com/2012/09/ cipayung-plus-desak-seepeserta-pemilu-buat-
lahirnya-pmii.html (being accessed on March 8,
pakta-integritas (being accessed on March 8,
2014). 2014).
Indonesian Islamic Culture in Historical Perspectives 331