Gus Dur's candidacy and human rights<\/p>\n
From Koran Tempo<\/p>\n
Anybody who feels disinclined to vote for former president
\nAbdurrahman \"Gus Dur\" Wahid, who has impaired eyesight, should
\nrefrain from doing so in the July 5 presidential election.
\nHowever, nobody has the right to prevent him from joining the
\nrace for the presidency.<\/p>\n
The General Elections Commission (KPU), which has gone beyond
\nits powers and become a \"constitutional executor\", has no right
\nto ban him either, because it is only in charge of the
\narrangements for holding general elections.<\/p>\n
More absurdly, the judicial authority \"borrowed\" by the KPU
\nhas been \"delegated\" to the Indonesian Doctors Association. The
\nright of Gus Dur or anybody else to run for the presidency can
\nonly be annulled if he or she is proven guilty of criminal
\ncharges or of treason.<\/p>\n
Therefore, it is wise to leave it to the electorate, via the
\nJuly 5 election, to decide the right choice. In the meantime, if
\nthe Supreme Court later turns down an appeal by Gus Dur and the
\nNational Awakening Party, I would like to suggest that their
\nfollowers avoid an emotional response.<\/p>\n
The struggle for constitutional democracy indeed takes a long
\ntime. People in the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court
\nare not all well-versed in the true essence of democracy.<\/p>\n
MAWARDI
\nTokyo, Japan<\/p>",
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