Abdurrahman sings duets with friend

Abdurrahman sings duets with friend

JAKARTA (JP): Abdurrahman Wahid chose to remain oblivious to
his presidential demise on Monday, as he spent time singing duets
with a colleague and insisting that he would not vacate the
palace, despite having been formally deposed as top executive.

According to aides, Abdurrahman did keep up with proceedings
by listening to the television.

However, he tried to hide any sign of tension as he engaged in
various activities.

After Megawati Soekarnoputri had been formally sworn in to
replace him, Abdurrahman's friend, self-proclaimed humorist Jaya
Suprana came by to brighten the glum atmosphere by joking and
singing duets with the by now ex-president.

Later in the evening a crowd of about 2,000 pro-Abdurrahman
supporters gathered in front of the palace to show their praise
and support for him.

"Gus Dur is our great leader," one of the demonstrators
shouted. His shout could be clearly heard from the palace.

Casually attired in shorts and a house shirt, Abdurrahman then
decided to step out onto the palace porch and wave to his
supporters.

Another friend who met him was Habil Marati, a legislator from
the United Development Party (PPP).

According to Habil, who met Abdurrahman before Megawati's
swearing in, Abdurrahman looked relaxed in shorts, T-shirt and a
cap inscribed with "The President of the Republic of Indonesia"
on it.

The cap was a gift during a visit to Gorontalo province last
week and had been worn in most of his televised appearances in
the last few days.

Meanwhile, Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab, who is
known as a close confidant, said Abdurrahman had told him that he
would not leave Merdeka Palace, where he had lived for 21 months
since his election in October 1999.

Both Habil and Alwi quoted Abdurrahman as complaining that he
was a victim of injustice and unilateral action from the
Assembly.

"Gus Dur said he would not leave Merdeka Palace," Alwi said
after the meeting. Alwi could not hide his disappointment over
the current state of affairs, although he tried hard to smile
broadly to reporters.

Abdurrahman's dismissal makes him the third president in three
years to have been ousted from office, after Soeharto and B.J.
Habibie.

In what could be a strange example of deja vu, should
Abdurrahman remain defiant and refuse to leave the palace, then
he could face the same fate as Megawati's father, who had to be
"escorted" from the palace.

"He is our first president who was democratically elected, but
he has also become the most humiliated former president," said an
elderly employee who had taken care of young Megawati when she
lived at the palace.

One of his official drivers disclosed that Abdurrahman's
official limousine still used the "Indonesia 1" registration
plate, although Megawati's car had already been changed from
"Indonesia 2" to "Indonesia 1".

Head of the presidential team of doctors, his younger brother
Umar Wahid, described Abdurrahman as being in good health and
high spirits.

"He is very healthy, but please don't ask me about other
things," Umar told reporters.

Abdurrahman cleared most of his Tuesday appointments,
including a gathering with children at the palace to mark
National Children's Day.

Sponsors of the ceremony, including Coca-Cola, quickly
dismantled their stalls after being informed about the
cancellation.

Former first lady Sinta Nuriyah hosted a Koran recital at the
palace in the evening. It was attended by about 150 women.

For dinner Abdurrahman ordered his favorite food, Javanese
delicacies like tempe, (soybean cake) from a well known caterer
in North Jakarta.

"It was like the last supper for him here," a protocol
official said.

His two daughters, Anita Abdurrahman and Inayah Abdurrahman,
clearly felt the difference just hours after their father's
official dismissal.

Anita left the palace grounds in the evening with her
boyfriend, without much ado. Usually they are saluted every time
guards pass them by.

When a paspampres (presidential security guard) prohibited
about 20 of Abdurrahman's guests from entering, Inayah,
Abdurrahman's youngest daughter, tried to intervene, but failed.

"This is under my command," a young officer quickly responded,
after she tried to make a telephone call to clear them through
the security check.

Inayah then had to personally go to the palace gate to welcome
the guests, including human rights activist Yeni Rosa Damayanti,
as the guards were reluctant to allow them in.

Around the compound guards and palace officials gossiped about
how long their former boss could hold out at the palace. (prb)