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)