Ansor decides against sending members to capital

BANDUNG (JP): In a move apparently to appease increasing worries of a possible mass showdown in Jakarta, one of President Abdurrahman Wahid's ardent support groups, the Ansor youth movement, has promised not to send its people to Jakarta to defend the embattled President.

Ansor chairman Syaifullah Yusuf said here on Sunday that the movement would not involve itself in the current heightening political bickering between the President and the House of Representatives.

"We will let the political elite in Jakarta (find solutions). We still believe that political leaders in this country could give guidance that would be respected by future generations," Syaifullah told reporters.

Syaifullah, also a nephew of President Abdurrahman, was speaking to reporters after delivering a speech in commemoration of Ansor's 67th anniversary here.

In the past, Ansor had been active in mobilizing people to go to the capital, either to stage a rally against the House's move against the President or attend a mass prayer to give support to the beleaguered Abdurrahman.

Many have feared a possible outbreak of clashes between supporters of President Abdurrahman Wahid and supporters of his political opponents at the House if the House goes ahead with its plan to call a special session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) to impeach the President.

The House is scheduled to hold a plenary session on Wednesday to decide whether to call a special session or not.

Syaifullah, a legislator at the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), called on members of the political elite to settle their differences through political compromise, in order to avoid conflict among the people.

"What is important for Ansor is how things can be settled and how Gus Dur and Mega can be still in office until 2004," he said, referring to the nicknames of Abdururahman and his deputy, Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

He said a political compromise would fulfill the wish of the majority of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) supporters and could possibly avoid the MPR special session.

Nevertheless, Syaifullah said that Ansor would continue to assume its responsibility in "guarding kyai (Muslim clerics)."

"The kyai in NU culture are exemplary leaders who have to be respected. Therefore I always ask my friends in Ansor to consult with local clerics if they plan any activities," Syaifullah remarked.

When asked to comment on the recent anarchic action against executives of the National Mandate Party (PAN) in the Central Java town of Tegal, Syaifullah said he regretted the violence and called on all parties to avoid the use of violence in voicing their political aspirations.

He stated that he did not know whether the violence was committed by supporters of President Abdurrahman in saying,"I did not know who were the plotters, but we regret it and hope that the incident will be not repeated."

PAN is one of Abdurrahman's political rivals. (25)