President visits his hometown<\/p>\n
JOMBANG, East Java (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid said here
\non Saturday that Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri would for
\nthe moment handle problems relating to Ambon, Irian Jaya and
\nRiau.<\/p>\n
\"She will deal with such difficult things,\" he said jokingly
\nat an unofficial gathering at the Mamba'ul Ma'arif Islamic
\nboarding school in Denanyar, Jombang.<\/p>\n
Ethnic and religious clashes have haunted Ambon since January
\nthis year. Former president Habibie's administration was widely
\nregarded as being too slow to respond to the deaths of hundreds
\nof people.<\/p>\n
In Irian Jaya, locals have continued to stage protests in
\nresponse to rights violations in the easternmost province. Many
\npeople have also been killed in incidents which are yet to be
\nproperly investigated.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, locals in Riau have maintained their demands to
\nseparate from the Republic of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"I'll take care of any problems relating to Aceh, economic
\ndevelopment and food and marine issues,\" Abdurrahman said.<\/p>\n
Achenese people, with their long history of rights violations
\nand claims of genocide, have asked the government for a
\nreferendum in the restive province. They have also demanded that
\nIslamic law be applied in the province.<\/p>\n
The President said that a ministry for marine development and
\nexploitation would soon be established. \"We have rich seas, but
\nour Navy is poor, so that somebody else has robbed our seas. It's
\ntime to build a stronger Navy,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Seventy-five percent of our country is sea, but we have not
\nproperly managed and exploited it,\" said Abdurrahman Wahid, who
\nis better known as Gus Dur.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman said that with a stronger Navy, Indonesia, which
\nis the world's largest archipelago, would regain its former
\nreputation as a great maritime nation.<\/p>\n
He said Indonesia would return to its glorious maritime days
\nas evidenced in the fine traditions of the old Bugis (Makassar,
\nSouth Sulawesi), Aceh, Tarumanegara kingdom (West Java), Jepara
\n(Central Java) and Dipatiunus (Demak, Central Java).<\/p>\n
Jombang is the President's hometown, and the visit was also
\nthe occasion for a big family reunion.<\/p>\n
The President and First Lady Sinta Nuriyah made devotional
\nvisits to the graves of Hasyim Asy'ari and Wahid Hasyim in the
\nvicinity of the Tebu Ireng Islamic boarding school.<\/p>\n
Hashim Asy'ari was the founding father of Nahdlatul Ulama,
\ncurrently chaired by Abdurrahman, while Wahid Hasyim was the
\nfather of the new President.<\/p>\n
East Java Governor Imam Utomo, Indonesian Military (TNI)
\ncommander Maj. Gen. Ryamizad Ryacudu and East Java Police chief
\nMaj. Gen. Moch. Dayat greeted the President.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman's younger brother, Silahuddin Wahid, who is also
\nchairman of the Muslim Community Awakening Party (PKU), was also
\nin the entourage.<\/p>\n
In comparison to security arrangements for other Indonesian
\npresidents, security for the President's visit was comparatively
\nrelaxed.<\/p>\n
The scheduled arrival time was changed three times. The
\nPresident was initially scheduled to arrival at 11 p.m. The time
\nwas changed to 3:30 p.m., but was put back to 1:30 p.m, before
\nhelicopters carrying the President and his entourage landed at
\n2:45 p.m.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman visited his mother-in-law who lives on Jl. Juanda
\nbefore heading for the Mamba'ul Ma'arif Islamic boarding school
\nwhere he revealed the short term tasks for the nation's
\nleadership team.<\/p>\n
After visiting his ancestor's graves, Abdurrahman headed for
\nthe family's home in Denanyar, also in Jombang, where he stayed
\nfor approximately one hour.<\/p>\n
Central Java<\/p>\n
Hours before the hometown visit, the President made his first
\nhead of state trip to Kajen village in Pati regency, Central
\nJava.<\/p>\n
Three helicopters landed the President's entourage at a soccer
\nfield in Ngemplak Lor village, some two kilometers away from
\nKajen. The President was then taken by car to visit the graves of
\nlocal Muslim figures.<\/p>\n
Central Java Governor Mardiyanto, military commander Maj. Gen.
\nBibit Waluyo and police chief Maj. Gen. Nurfaizi, as well as
\nthousands of Muslim students, greeted Indonesia's fourth
\nPresident, who is also a kyai (Muslim leader).<\/p>\n
President Abdurrahman returned on Saturday to Jakarta and is
\nscheduled to be in Bali today.<\/p>\n
Vice President Megawati was reported earlier to be planning a
\nweekend visit to Bali. A source close to her said from Bali that
\nthe plan was canceled for unknown reasons. (nur\/har\/sur)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/president-visits-his-hometown-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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