Anti-Gus Dur rally in Padang

Anti-Gus Dur rally in Padang

PADANG, West Sumatra: Some 2,000 students and members of
several Muslim organizations rallied in front of City Council
here on Monday, protesting against President Abdurrahman Wahid.

The protesters, calling themselves the Youth and Community
Alliance, demanded President Abdurrahman step down and that the
People's Consultative Assembly hold a special session to impeach
him.

The alliance also condemned the recent unrest in East Java and
asked people to uphold the unity of the nation.

They then erected an effigy of the President on the council
building's flagpole.

The protesters were received by Council Speaker Arwan Kasri
who told them that out of 13 factions in the council, 11 factions
wanted the President to resign. Two other factions, the
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and the
National Awakening Party (PKB) had yet to take a stand.

Meanwhile, a professor at the Imam Bonjol State Institute of
Islamic Studies (IAIN), Syaifullah, said he supported the
movement and vowed to invite all university rectors in Padang to
stand behind the students.

"I want the rectors here to act like Gadjah Mada University
rector Ichlasul Amal," he said. (28)