Include Soeharto in dialog: Gus Dur<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Moslem leader Abdurrahman Wahid made a fresh
\ncall on Wednesday for former president Soeharto to be included in
\na dialog for national reconciliation.<\/p>\n
\"Pak Harto, as well as President B.J. Habibie and Armed Forces
\nCommander Gen. Wiranto, should be included in the dialog if we
\nwant to achieve national reconciliation,\" he told reporters after
\nreceiving a delegation of several political parties at his
\nresidence in Ciganjur, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"Pak Harto still has a strong influence on Indonesia's
\npolitical affairs,\" he said. \"Although he is no longer the
\npresident of Indonesia, his opinions are still followed by many
\npeople.\"<\/p>\n
Asked to elaborate about his belief that Soeharto still
\nwielded considerable political influence, he said numerous
\nIndonesians were still loyal to the former president.<\/p>\n
\"I do not need to mention their names, but he still has lots
\nof supporters, including those holding important government
\npositions,\" said Abdurrahman, who is better known as Gus Dur.<\/p>\n
In response to recent criticism over his \"maneuver\" meetings
\nwith Habibie and Wiranto, Abdurrahman expressed confidence of his
\nmission to help develop national unity.<\/p>\n
\"I realize that my decision will not be popular with the
\nstudents.\"<\/p>\n
\"But, I don't care and will never care about how the students
\nrespond,\" he said. \"I have never cared about NU's response, or,
\nabove all, other people's response.\"<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman met with Wiranto last Wednesday and Habibie last
\nSaturday to discuss the planned national dialog for
\nreconciliation.<\/p>\n
Several newspapers reported that he also met with Soeharto for
\nthe same purpose on Sunday. Abdurrahman has dismissed the
\nreports.<\/p>\n
Amien Rais -- who, along with Abdurrahman, Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri and Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, formed the Ciganjur
\ngroup of reform leaders -- lamented the meetings because he
\nbelieved Abdurrahman had abandoned the group.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman, however, said the meetings were called on his own
\ninitiative.<\/p>\n
\"I undertook all of them in my capacity as an individual, not
\nas one of the signatories of the Ciganjur declaration,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Pak Amien should not be bothered with my actions as the other
\nsignatories, including Mbak Mega, have not said a word about
\nthem,\" he added. Megawati is the leader of the more popular
\nfaction of the splintered Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman said he was campaigning for national
\nreconciliation out of concern for national unity which he
\nbelieved was not at risk.<\/p>\n
\"There are still efforts by certain parties to turn Indonesia
\ninto a religious state,\" he said, but did not elaborate.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman dismissed speculation that personal ambition was
\nbehind his political maneuvering. He said physical disability
\nhindered him from becoming president.<\/p>\n
\"I have problems with my sight,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He, however, did not dismiss the possibility of joining the
\npresidential race if surgery, planned for next year in Australia,
\nrestores his eyesight.<\/p>\n
\"Who knows if I'll be able to join the presidential race,\" he
\nsaid. (imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/include-soeharto-in-dialog-gus-dur-1447893297",
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