Gus Dur's gathering not seeking to rock the boat<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): A group of prominent intellectuals gathered
\nlast week at Moslem leader Abdurrahman Wahid's residence in
\nCiganjur, South Jakarta, warning the country against social
\ndisintegration.<\/p>\n
The group called for national solidarity in order to cope with
\nthe ongoing monetary crisis in a written statement titled the
\n\"Ciganjur Appeal\". The appeal also stated that a \"willingness
\nfrom those who have the economic or political power to sacrifice\"
\nwas needed.<\/p>\n
Among the participants were human rights campaigner Marzuki
\nDarusman, Todung Mulya Lubis, Asmara Nababan, philosopher and
\nCatholic priest Franz Magnis-Suseno, scholars Harry Tjan
\nSilalahi, Moeslim Abdurrahman and Ignas Kleden, senior journalist
\nGoenawan Mohamad and ulema-cum-poet Mustofa Bisri.<\/p>\n
Led by Abdurrahman -- better known as Gus Dur -- and Jakarta's
\nArchbishop Julius Cardinal Darmaatmadja, the Dec. 23 gathering
\nhas caused some speculation over whether a new alliance is
\nemerging, seeking a better leverage for \"grassroots dissidents\".<\/p>\n
Political scientist Riswandha Imawan of Gadjah Mada
\nUniversity, however, disagreed with speculators' use of the word
\n\"dissidents\" and concluded that Abdurrahman Wahid and his friends
\nwere not seeking to \"rock the system\".<\/p>\n
The following are Riswandha's views on the gathering.<\/p>\n
Question: How do you view the gathering at Gus Dur's?<\/p>\n
Answer: I believe the gathering was a cultural protest aimed
\nat the government. It involved people from various religious,
\nethnic, cultural and professional backgrounds. They were all
\nconcerned about the recent situation facing Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The gathering was meant to highlight the numerous violations
\nof the principles that guide Indonesian politics today. For
\ninstance, the principles (that politics) should be accommodating
\nand balanced.<\/p>\n
We have been boasting about how our political system is able
\nto accommodate change, that it is balanced. It's not.<\/p>\n
The gathering was a display of good faith intentions (by the
\nparticipants) not to rock the system. They were there to reflect
\nover the passing year...and give a warning, even though it was
\nnot heeded.<\/p>\n
Don't see these people as dissidents because they are in fact
\nloyalists -- people who love this country.<\/p>\n
Q: They warned against attempts to disrupt the nation's social
\nstability. What do you think of the warning?<\/p>\n
A: I believe they made the statement in the context of national
\ndevelopment which places an undue emphasis on economic aspects
\nand causes the emergence of patterns of...exploitation. Those
\npatterns demand absolute loyalty and create a close-minded
\nattitude toward people with different approaches.<\/p>\n
When (President Soeharto) became ill, rumors circulated that
\nhe was dying or had even died. What religions teach their
\nfollowers to pray for another person's death?<\/p>\n
The (intellectuals) who gathered at (Abdurrahman's) house were
\nconcerned that the country's physical development had not been
\naccompanied by a spiritual development, causing many imbalances.
\nRemember, the nation's development is supposed to nurture a
\nhealthy physical and spiritual development for Indonesians.<\/p>\n
Q: In the meeting, Abdurrahman Wahid spoke out against revolution
\nand for gradual reform. Do you think the social, economic and
\npolitical situation in Indonesia merit the call?<\/p>\n
A: We are in fact facing a crisis of legitimacy (on the part of
\nthe government) because the New Order's two main pillars have
\nbecome shaky. These are the pillars of economic and political
\nstability.<\/p>\n
Social unrest in the form of riots (over the past two years)
\nin Situbondo (in East Java), Tasikmalaya (in West Java),
\nBanjarmasin (in South Kalimantan), Sanggau Ledo (in West
\nKalimantan), Ujungpandang (in South Sulawesi) and Timika (in
\nIrian Jaya) all showed that the pillars have become unstable.<\/p>\n
As a nation that believes in God, stipulated in the first
\ntenet of the state ideology Pancasila, this severe crisis should
\nremind us to ask for God's help.<\/p>\n
Remember that when we toppled the Old Order regime (in the
\n1960s), we did it in the spirit of a cultural movement, in
\ndevotion to God. Now that we're facing another crisis, we should
\ngo back to such a devout way.<\/p>\n
The (Ciganjur) gathering was held with a good attitude.<\/p>\n
Q: The meeting in Ciganjur was also held to celebrate Christmas
\nas well as to welcome the Islamic fasting month of Ramadhan. For
\nsome people, it was a controversial move. Do you think it will
\nalienate Gus Dur among Moslems?<\/p>\n
A: It is a classic problem for many Indonesian Moslem leaders.
\nBecause Moslems are the majority here, leaders are faced with two
\nchoices -- to be popular in the Moslem community but not at the
\nnational level, or to be popular at the national level but not in
\nthe Moslem community.<\/p>\n
I believe that what Gus Dur wants is to be accepted by
\neverybody. He is a humanitarian who does not want people to be
\ntrapped by walls they erect themselves.<\/p>\n
Religions are here to help make our life easier, not to make
\nthings hard for us. The gathering should not be seen merely as a
\nChristmas celebration (being hosted by a Moslem -- something
\nwhich the Indonesian Council of Ulemas has prohibited).<\/p>\n
It's the momentum (for the group's campaign) which coincided
\n(with Christmas).<\/p>\n
Q: Do you think there should be similar gatherings in the future?<\/p>\n
A: I believe so. Public criticism against the government cannot
\nbe done in straightforward language. It should be conveyed with
\nsubtlety, indirectly, and (in ways) which can be accepted by the
\npower holders.<\/p>\n
Those people (in the gathering) really know how to convey
\ntheir criticism in a form that does not offend and in a way that
\nthe power holders can accept. I believe Gus Dur has to hold more
\nof such gatherings. (44)<\/p>",
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