Democracy and violence

Democracy and violence

From Media Indonesia

After the issuance of the second censure from the House of Representatives, President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid's supporters launched a mass parade to the National Monument (Monas) square carrying posters that read "If Gus Dur steps down, blood will flow". The posters were aimed at threatening anti-Gus Dur groups who happen to be Muslims as well. It was quite awful. Demokrasi golok (democratically ruled by the sword) will definitely ruin Indonesia.

A friend asked why people of the same faith waged a war. What if the nation is composed of multiracial people of different faiths?

There was something positive that came out of the istighosah (mass prayer) conducted by the Nahdlatul Ulama members. Indonesia's multidimensional crisis cannot be solved through conventional methods but through the miracles of God only. Gus Dur and his followers compassionately and mercifully "cried" and prayed for God's help. And we know the phenomena is not political lip service, but springs from the innermost human feelings. Nahdlatul Ulama chairman K H Hasyim Muzadi, when interviewed on whether the mass prayer would invite conflict, asked us to imagine that the istighosah was for freeing this nation from those never-ending multidimensional crises held at Arafah desert. He added that with serious goodwill exercised by all Muslims, the prayer would be fulfilled by Allah.

But unfortunately the mass prayer was not carried out by all Muslims. If 50 percent of them prayed for Gus Dur and 50 percent against him, the result would have been zero. Therefore, the conflict between pro-Gus Dur and anti-Gus Dur Muslims should be put to an end in the interest of all Indonesians.

So, being democratically ruled by the sword must be avoided and stopped as it is against Islamic teaching. Islam is against bloodshed, and has no thirst for blood. If by his legitimate status Abdurrahman is considered incapable of overcoming this extremely terrible crisis, he should withdraw from the presidency and his followers must wholeheartedly and willingly accept it.

Islam is rahmatan lil alamin (a blessing for the universe) and must be a peace-loving religion. Rasulullah (prophet Muhammad) once said: "Fight against your passions because the biggest war is the one against yourselves". And this certainly applies to all Muslims, including the political elite now quibbling for power.

DR. AGUS SUNTORO

Jakarta