Akbar warns Abdurrahman of social unrest

Akbar warns Abdurrahman of social unrest

CISARUA, West Java (JP): House of Representatives Speaker
Akbar Tandjung warned President Abdurrahman Wahid on Saturday of
creating social unrest as a result of his controversial
statements and the continuing political and economic instability.

Speaking after opening a workshop for journalists covering
House affairs, Akbar said controversy sparked by his statements
could lead to a crisis of confidence in the government.

He said mass rallies by Muslim groups nationwide to protest
Abdurrahman's wish to encourage communist teaching was an example
of the public's resistance, and it needs addressing otherwise it
could give more problems to the government.

"Gus Dur and his government may face a sort of impeachment
from the people if social unrest continues to escalate," Akbar
said, referring to Abdurrahman's popular nickname.

Akbar said the House could press the People's Consultative
Assembly (MPR) to call for a Special Session to appraise the
President's performance and the government's efforts to address
political and economic plights.

Akbar said many sides had been disappointed with the President
for making controversial statements that raised confusion among
the public and with his government's failure to achieve any
progress in handling the political and economic crisis.

Political observer Maswadi Rauf echoed Akbar's warning. He
suggested that President Abdurrahman instead offer a dialog with
the protesting groups.

"Gus Dur has been belittling Muslim groups, ignoring the
possibility that they could resort to social unrest sparked by
their anger. The President has to prevent such a movement from
taking place," Maswadi of the University of Indonesia said.

He said a dialog would at least open a chance for the groups
to vent their arguments.

In his personal opinion, Maswadi said he was not surprised by
Abdurrahman's wish to have the obsolete MPR decree revoked.

"As a humanist and intellectual, Gus Dur had proposed the idea
long before he was elected President. I believe he wasn't seeking
certain benefits from his statement," he said.

Political bargain

But historian Ahmad Mansyur Suryanegara of the Padjadjaran
University in Bandung suspected that President Abdurrahman was
exploiting the communist issue to warn the International Monetary
Fund (IMF), which has delayed an aid disbursement of US$400
million to Indonesia.

Speaking at a discussion sponsored by the Bandung Journalists
Discussion Forum at the Homann Hotel, Mansyur said the President
was targeting the IMF and the United States, regardless of the
fact that his statement could spark anger among Muslims.

"If the IMF does not move, Gus Dur will prove his statement,"
Mansyur said.

Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) leader Said Aqiel Siradj shared Mansyur's
opinion. Said said in Yogyakarta on Sunday that the President
proposed that MPR lift ban on communism to put pressures on the
U.S. and IMF.

As a historian who has written about the history of NU, the
Muslim organization Abdurrahman once led, Mansyur acknowledged
that he could not understand Abdurrahman.

But he warned that if Abdurrahman had proposed his view on
communism just to test Muslims' strength, it would backfire on
him.

"Those who silently hit out at him will now be able to topple
him easily," Mansyur said.

MPR Speaker Amien Rais agreed, saying the stakes were too high
for Abdurrahman with his perceived support for communist
teachings to be revived in Indonesia.

While assuring that Abdurrahman will complete his five-year
term, Amien said the MPR would reject any demand for the
revocation of the ban against communist teachings.

Meanwhile, House Deputy Speaker Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno said
the government should, instead of revoking the decree, reinstate
the political rights of those who were punished for their direct
and indirect links to the banned Indonesian Communist Party
(PKI).

"For the sake of national reconciliation, release those who
are jailed on Buru and Nusa Kambangan islands and rehabilitate
former officials and civil servants who were dismissed for their
links with the communist party," he said.

He said it was unfair and inhumane to punish innocent people
only because their relatives were members of the party or
involved in the PKI-supported insurgencies in 1955 and 1965.
(edt/rms/sur/25/44)