Banser prepare for mass-mobilization

SURABAYA (JP): M.H. Rofiq, 39, is these days busy with preparations to send thousands of members of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) militia, known as Banser, to Jakarta to display their support for embattled President Abdurrahman Wahid who is facing inquiries by legislators over various financial and political scandals.

Rofiq, a member of the East Java legislative council from Wahid's National Awakening Party (PKB), is also a chairman of the East Java branch of Ansor, the youth wing of NU.

"They (the Banser members) have been saving up since last Ramadhan. Some have even been setting aside money for this trip since the middle of last year," he told The Jakarta Post.

"No one encourages them to go. Many of them don't even understand political matters. But they have feelings, that the state is in danger. They are now awaiting the command to go."

Rofiq is the one to sound the bugle, who according to organizational structure is in charge of the Banser. The father of five children claims to be in command of 200,000 Banser members all ready to amass in Jakarta.

"I guarantee they will not be violent," Rofiq said. "It's easy to control them because they are trained in organizational skills. There's little chance people will exploit them by infiltrating their ranks or agitating them.

"They obey their leaders."

Rofiq said Banser members come from diverse backgrounds. Those with poor educational background are usually inclined to use their muscles, while those with higher education are more rational.

"We need to manage differences between them carefully. Besides, the public tends to see only the negative side of this organization," he said frankly.

So why do the Banser members insist on coming to Jakarta amidst an uncertain political situation? Rofiq shared his views with the Post in a recent interview.

Question: What motivates the Banser members to go to Jakarta?

Answer: They are inspired by moral and constitutional values. This is of course acceptable as long as (their stance) is conveyed in a procedural manner and does not cause unrest.

In addition, the plan actually belongs to the entire NU, including those at grassroots level, so not only the Banser, in order to take sides under the Constitution. (It's a response) to the situation concerning the presidency.

President Gus Dur was elected democratically and in a legitimate way. He should remain in his position until his term expires. The commitment of NU is constitutional, regardless of who the president is.

Lately we have witnessed campaigns to shake Gus Dur's leadership, which have in fact escalated and are no longer temporary in nature. Nahdlatul Ulama, in particular Banser, understands this situation as a campaign to create instability in the administration.

How do you distinguish support for Abdurrahman Wahid, who is former NU chairman and who enjoys fanatical obedience of NU followers, and support for the presidency?

We are not defending Abdurrahman Wahid, but the constitution and the presidency which Nahdlatul Ulama and other elements in society believe are something that should be upheld. Which is why, we will only come forward if there is a large movement that intends to forcibly remove the President.

On the other hand, small amounts of criticism which do not seek to impose their will, are supported by us. Those criticisms are a part of public participation in Gus Dur's administration. We are not against those.

Whoever wants to criticize Gus Dur, go ahead!

What is the evidence that some people indeed want to 'impose' their will?

There are two indicators, namely the number and quality (of the campaign). Firstly, if this involves mass mobilization, and most of these are paid supporters, rather than those who come purely in order to deliver their aspirations.

The quality (of campaigns against Gus Dur) can actually be seen to have been carried out systematically and initiated by certain members of the political elite to upset Gus Dur's leadership, rather than just conveying their criticism.

Indeed, there are friends in Jakarta who wish to appear in public from time to time merely to balance out those engaging in anti-Gus Dur campaigns.

And now?

I can't say for sure. But, I sense that there will be mass- mobilization in mid-January, and that this campaign is being supported by certain political elites. As far as I know, this activity has reached the point where they want to topple Gus Dur. Now, our friends in the Banser want to come out and balance the other side out.

I don't know for sure. On Christmas Eve, there was bombing everywhere killing a member of Banser (Rijanto, killed at Ebenneizer Church in Mojokerto, East Java). I don't know whether the movement stopped because of (the bombing). But we remain on alert for any eventualities.

Many people think Banser members are supporting Gus Dur to the point of being fanatical, defending him no matter what.

Listen, the NU community are of varying educational backgrounds; there are those who are well-educated, and those who have not received any schooling. But, no matter how stupid they are, they still want to respond to the situation. The lowest level of NU community, even if they are not able to articulate the political dynamics, have their own 'language' in interpreting democratization.

Members of the NU community who have received an average education will surely take side with the constitution and continue to take measures to develop other members politically. Those at the lowest level are usually fanatical; this is especially true with NU supporters in Madura who are fanatical about their kyai (leaders). They are willing to sacrifice anything (for their leaders).

With regard to Banser, we usually brief them before they take to the streets. So that when they do go on to the streets, they all have an understanding as to why they are there. We reason with them. We don't want them to go to Jakarta without knowing the purpose of their mission. Otherwise, they will merely become a problem; they could easily be infiltrated.

How do you control this?

Those who go to Jakarta will have undergone a basic training. Each Banser member has to join this training, where they will be briefed about nationalism and the importance of obeying only one command. It is easy to maintain this line of command. For instance, one branch of the organization sending 500 members has to have one commander and one coordinator. Everyone is duly identified and selected.

If people think Bansers are violent people, that's only an appearance. Among us we have norms on how to behave. We avoid violence or conflicts among civilians, as best we can.

We are all citizens of this country and so have equal rights. For instance, there are groups who 'occupy' the House of Representatives (DPR) compound and demonstrate for a number of hours. We tell them that we have equal rights to do the same.

Have you considered the political impacts (of mobilizing Banser to Jakarta) to NU?

We have made careful calculations. It is true that many people, including the press, see us in a negative light. But one must understand that those traveling to Jakarta are not only Banser members, but also other elements of NU such as students, women groups, santri (students of Islamic boarding schools).

Banser will play a security role for the institution and community of NU. Otherwise, there's great risk involved.

Those speaking out (in the planned rally) may come from either Banser, students or santri. It doesn't matter whether in the end our aspirations are accepted or not, whether we win or lose. We'll see.

We only want to say that what we're doing is a moral movement, not practical politics. And that it comes from our understanding of the constitution and our nationalism. I don't know whether we are going to win or lose in this war of opinions, or even physical (war).

If civilian conflicts do occur, aren't you worried that it would only benefit the military?

That's what we are trying to avoid. We are approaching the anti-Gus Dur camp to arrange peaceful rallies. No group should arrogantly attempt to take over the DPR building, and force their own will.

As long as no civilians carry bombs, we will go ahead with our plans. But should there be anyone carrying bombs, we will of course disperse. (Ainur R. Sophiaan)