Prospective eye donors line up for Abdurrahman<\/p>\n
SEMARANG (JP): Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) executive Imam Syafii
\ncalled on Thursday for President Abdurrahman Wahid to accept an
\noffer from prospective eye donors.<\/p>\n
Imam was responding to the unusual offer from a group of
\nNational Awakening Party (PKB) supporters in Yogyakarta. The
\ngroup said on Wednesday they were prepared to donate their eyes
\nto the country's new President, who is the PKB's founder and
\nchairman of the 35 million-strong NU.<\/p>\n
"I praise and thank the prospective donors who want President
\nAbdurrahman to be able to carry out his daily duties
\neffectively," NU treasurer Imam said here.<\/p>\n
But Imam said it was up to Abdurrahman to decide whether he
\nwanted to accept the offer.<\/p>\n
"If there are no obstacles in respect to medical or religious
\nmatters, I think the President is willing to take up the offer,"
\nImam said.<\/p>\n
"Lets hope that the President will accept (this idea)," he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman, better known as Gus Dur, has been suffering from
\neyesight problems for years. He recently told his aides that
\nobjects appeared "blurry" to him.<\/p>\n
He traveled in May to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he underwent
\ncosmetic surgery on his eyelids. Since then, the President has
\nhad ongoing medical treatment. Several months before his U.S.
\nvisit, he traveled to European countries for the same therapy.<\/p>\n
Long before the presidential election was held earlier this
\nmonth, Abdurrahman repeatedly said he would only run for the
\npresidency if his eyesight was restored. PKB leaders also said at
\nthe time that they would support Abdurrahman's bid if he regained
\nhis sight.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman was hospitalized last year after a stroke attack.<\/p>\n
Nominated by a group of Muslim parties called the "axis
\nforce", Abdurrahman defeated his close friend Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri in the presidential election held on Oct. 20. The
\nfollowing day, Megawati was elected to the vice presidential
\npost. (har\/edt)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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