Banser prepare for mass-mobilization

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)