Criticism pours in over role of 'Banser'

JAKARTA (JP): The manner in which Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) civilian guards settled a dispute over an alleged slanderous report run by the Surabaya-based Jawa Pos daily has served a notice to the future of democracy in the country, observers warned on Tuesday.

Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono urged political parties as well as mass organizations to control their affiliated civilian task forces and to take off their military-style uniforms if necessary.

"Why should we tarnish the newly found political culture that is based on civilian manners by adopting such a militaristic or paramilitaristic approach?" he told journalists after speaking at the Strategic Forum at the Army Staff and Command School in Bandung.

Juwono was responding to an attack by NU civilian guards, popularly called Banser, in Surabaya on the daily's offices after it printed special coverage of alleged corruption by NU leaders.

President Abdurrahman Wahid, who chaired NU for 15 years before assuming the state's top post last year, heated up the row by saying that the daily was part of a conspiracy to topple his government.

Juwono said the use of mob force to put pressure on the media had occurred for the past five years and should be stopped.

"The incident must be the latest of its kind. And I think the apology from Banser is a good gesture. But again, all parties must exercise restraint," he said.

Jawa Pos has apologized for the erroneous report, so has the chairman of NU's youth wing, Ansor, the backbone of Banser guards, Saifulah Yusuf, for the exaggerated action.

Golkar Party deputy chairman Agung Laksono joined the chorus of criticism, saying the move had hurt democracy and the free press. He said the attack was carried out in "an anarchic manner".

"We do not want to create an extreme society which gives room to blind fanaticism and discourages openness," Agung said as quoted by Antara.

The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) went even further by suggesting the disbandment of all civilian guards linked to political parties. Agung took a milder stance, saying it was more important for political parties to control their paramilitary forces and take strict measures against those who spread fear in society.

House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Muhaimin Iskandar defended the existence of Banser, although he suggested some changes to the civilian force.

"They should take off their military uniforms and act more like civilians," Muhaimin, who is also the secretary-general of the National Awakening Party (PKB), said.

He disagreed with a suggestion that Banser guards should be disbanded, saying that they could not be separated from the social history of the largest Muslim organization.

He said Banser members, who in the past were designated as SOS officers, were trained by military officers.

"So, they (Banser members) are apparently affected by their military training," Muhaimin, a nephew of President Abdurrahman Wahid, said.

Political observer J. Kristiadi said the incident in Surabaya was not a sign of a setback in the country's democratization process on the grounds that the civilian guards finally bowed to public pressure.

"Banser, which in fact has many members, has already apologized following public criticism," Kristiadi said.

Separately, Jawa Pos' chief executive officer Dahlan Iskan has offered to resign from all activities at the daily following Abdurrahman's accusation that the newspaper was part of an attempt to topple his government.

The daily's chief of the editorial board, Dhimam Abror Djuraid, told The Jakarta Post that Dahlan offered his resignation on Monday night soon after the televised statement of Abdurrahman which Dhiham said "has hurt" Dahlan.

"Pak Dahlan held a meeting with some of us and said 'If I was the one accused by Gus Dur, then I will resign'. He was very hurt by the statement," Dhimam said, referring to the President's popular nickname.

Dhimam said Dahlan had not been part of the editorial team for five years and did not interfere with the editorial matters of the newspaper. "He did not know anything about it (the content of the paper)," he added.

To officially resign, Dahlan needs approval from the board of commissioners of the daily, said Dhiham. (25/edt/dja/jun)