Banser prepare for mass-mobilization<\/p>\n
SURABAYA (JP): M.H. Rofiq, 39, is these days busy with
\npreparations to send thousands of members of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU)
\nmilitia, known as Banser, to Jakarta to display their support for
\nembattled President Abdurrahman Wahid who is facing inquiries by
\nlegislators over various financial and political scandals.<\/p>\n
Rofiq, a member of the East Java legislative council from
\nWahid's National Awakening Party (PKB), is also a chairman of the
\nEast Java branch of Ansor, the youth wing of NU.<\/p>\n
\"They (the Banser members) have been saving up since last
\nRamadhan. Some have even been setting aside money for this trip
\nsince the middle of last year,\" he told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
\"No one encourages them to go. Many of them don't even
\nunderstand political matters. But they have feelings, that the
\nstate is in danger. They are now awaiting the command to go.\"<\/p>\n
Rofiq is the one to sound the bugle, who according to
\norganizational structure is in charge of the Banser. The father
\nof five children claims to be in command of 200,000 Banser
\nmembers all ready to amass in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"I guarantee they will not be violent,\" Rofiq said. \"It's easy
\nto control them because they are trained in organizational
\nskills. There's little chance people will exploit them by
\ninfiltrating their ranks or agitating them.<\/p>\n
\"They obey their leaders.\"<\/p>\n
Rofiq said Banser members come from diverse backgrounds. Those
\nwith poor educational background are usually inclined to use
\ntheir muscles, while those with higher education are more
\nrational.<\/p>\n
\"We need to manage differences between them carefully.
\nBesides, the public tends to see only the negative side of this
\norganization,\" he said frankly.<\/p>\n
So why do the Banser members insist on coming to Jakarta
\namidst an uncertain political situation? Rofiq shared his views
\nwith the Post in a recent interview.<\/p>\n
Question: What motivates the Banser members to go to Jakarta?<\/p>\n
Answer: They are inspired by moral and constitutional values.
\nThis is of course acceptable as long as (their stance) is
\nconveyed in a procedural manner and does not cause unrest.<\/p>\n
In addition, the plan actually belongs to the entire NU,
\nincluding those at grassroots level, so not only the Banser, in
\norder to take sides under the Constitution. (It's a response) to
\nthe situation concerning the presidency.<\/p>\n
President Gus Dur was elected democratically and in a
\nlegitimate way. He should remain in his position until his term
\nexpires. The commitment of NU is constitutional, regardless of
\nwho the president is.<\/p>\n
Lately we have witnessed campaigns to shake Gus Dur's
\nleadership, which have in fact escalated and are no longer
\ntemporary in nature. Nahdlatul Ulama, in particular Banser,
\nunderstands this situation as a campaign to create instability in
\nthe administration.<\/p>\n
How do you distinguish support for Abdurrahman Wahid, who is
\nformer NU chairman and who enjoys fanatical obedience of NU
\nfollowers, and support for the presidency?<\/p>\n
We are not defending Abdurrahman Wahid, but the constitution
\nand the presidency which Nahdlatul Ulama and other elements in
\nsociety believe are something that should be upheld. Which is
\nwhy, we will only come forward if there is a large movement that
\nintends to forcibly remove the President.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, small amounts of criticism which do not
\nseek to impose their will, are supported by us. Those criticisms
\nare a part of public participation in Gus Dur's administration.
\nWe are not against those.<\/p>\n
Whoever wants to criticize Gus Dur, go ahead!<\/p>\n
What is the evidence that some people indeed want to 'impose'
\ntheir will?<\/p>\n
There are two indicators, namely the number and quality (of
\nthe campaign). Firstly, if this involves mass mobilization, and
\nmost of these are paid supporters, rather than those who come
\npurely in order to deliver their aspirations.<\/p>\n
The quality (of campaigns against Gus Dur) can actually be
\nseen to have been carried out systematically and initiated by
\ncertain members of the political elite to upset Gus Dur's
\nleadership, rather than just conveying their criticism.<\/p>\n
Indeed, there are friends in Jakarta who wish to appear in
\npublic from time to time merely to balance out those engaging in
\nanti-Gus Dur campaigns.<\/p>\n
And now?<\/p>\n
I can't say for sure. But, I sense that there will be mass-
\nmobilization in mid-January, and that this campaign is being
\nsupported by certain political elites. As far as I know, this
\nactivity has reached the point where they want to topple Gus Dur.
\nNow, our friends in the Banser want to come out and balance the
\nother side out.<\/p>\n
I don't know for sure. On Christmas Eve, there was bombing
\neverywhere killing a member of Banser (Rijanto, killed at
\nEbenneizer Church in Mojokerto, East Java). I don't know whether
\nthe movement stopped because of (the bombing). But we remain on
\nalert for any eventualities.<\/p>\n
Many people think Banser members are supporting Gus Dur to the
\npoint of being fanatical, defending him no matter what.<\/p>\n
Listen, the NU community are of varying educational
\nbackgrounds; there are those who are well-educated, and those who
\nhave not received any schooling. But, no matter how stupid they
\nare, they still want to respond to the situation. The lowest
\nlevel of NU community, even if they are not able to articulate
\nthe political dynamics, have their own 'language' in interpreting
\ndemocratization.<\/p>\n
Members of the NU community who have received an average
\neducation will surely take side with the constitution and
\ncontinue to take measures to develop other members politically.
\nThose at the lowest level are usually fanatical; this is
\nespecially true with NU supporters in Madura who are fanatical
\nabout their kyai (leaders). They are willing to sacrifice
\nanything (for their leaders).<\/p>\n
With regard to Banser, we usually brief them before they take
\nto the streets. So that when they do go on to the streets, they
\nall have an understanding as to why they are there. We reason
\nwith them. We don't want them to go to Jakarta without knowing
\nthe purpose of their mission. Otherwise, they will merely become
\na problem; they could easily be infiltrated.<\/p>\n
How do you control this?<\/p>\n
Those who go to Jakarta will have undergone a basic training.
\nEach Banser member has to join this training, where they will be
\nbriefed about nationalism and the importance of obeying only one
\ncommand. It is easy to maintain this line of command. For
\ninstance, one branch of the organization sending 500 members has
\nto have one commander and one coordinator. Everyone is duly
\nidentified and selected.<\/p>\n
If people think Bansers are violent people, that's only an
\nappearance. Among us we have norms on how to behave. We avoid
\nviolence or conflicts among civilians, as best we can.<\/p>\n
We are all citizens of this country and so have equal rights.
\nFor instance, there are groups who 'occupy' the House of
\nRepresentatives (DPR) compound and demonstrate for a number of
\nhours. We tell them that we have equal rights to do the same.<\/p>\n
Have you considered the political impacts (of mobilizing
\nBanser to Jakarta) to NU?<\/p>\n
We have made careful calculations. It is true that many
\npeople, including the press, see us in a negative light. But one
\nmust understand that those traveling to Jakarta are not only
\nBanser members, but also other elements of NU such as students,
\nwomen groups, santri (students of Islamic boarding schools).<\/p>\n
Banser will play a security role for the institution and
\ncommunity of NU. Otherwise, there's great risk involved.<\/p>\n
Those speaking out (in the planned rally) may come from either
\nBanser, students or santri. It doesn't matter whether in the end
\nour aspirations are accepted or not, whether we win or lose.
\nWe'll see.<\/p>\n
We only want to say that what we're doing is a moral movement,
\nnot practical politics. And that it comes from our understanding
\nof the constitution and our nationalism. I don't know whether we
\nare going to win or lose in this war of opinions, or even
\nphysical (war).<\/p>\n
If civilian conflicts do occur, aren't you worried that it
\nwould only benefit the military?<\/p>\n
That's what we are trying to avoid. We are approaching the
\nanti-Gus Dur camp to arrange peaceful rallies. No group should
\narrogantly attempt to take over the DPR building, and force their
\nown will.<\/p>\n
As long as no civilians carry bombs, we will go ahead with our
\nplans. But should there be anyone carrying bombs, we will of
\ncourse disperse. (Ainur R. Sophiaan)<\/p>",
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