Criticism pours in over role of 'Banser'

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)