Evidence needed

Amid the speculation about who could be behind the killings (in Banyuwangi, East Java), a most disturbing assertion has been made by the chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) board, Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur). Gus Dur told reporters masterminds of the killings could be found in the current Reform Cabinet as well as outside the cabinet's formal structure. The motive, according to Gus Dur, is to provoke the outrage of NU members and create national instability. The aim is to upset the scheduled 1999 general elections. Gus Dur also said the Armed Forces are not involved and President B.J. Habibie has no knowledge of the plot.

A number of NU ulemas have confirmed Gus Dur's statement, and some of them even asserted that the whole affair has occurred as a consequence of conflicts within the country's political elite. In a meeting in Banyuwangi on Sunday, ulemas asked Commander of the Armed Forces, Wiranto, to bring the quarreling parties together. Wiranto agreed.

Obviously, Gus Dur must have good reason to have come to the conclusion that one or more masterminds of the (Banyuwangi) killings are in the cabinet. Therefore, assuming that such an allegation is correct -- although the logic of it may be difficult to understand, especially in the context of upsetting the coming general elections in order to preserve the status quo -- it would be most expedient for Gus Dur, as a religious leader, to make clear who those masterminds are.

We all condemn those barbarous killings. We would therefore like to see those masterminds brought to justice, irrespective of who they might be. Because of this, Gus Dur's willingness to reveal who those masterminds are is important in order that we, as a nation, may stave off mutual suspicion and slander. We also urge our law enforcers to act proactively, among other things by consulting Gus Dur.

-- Republika, Jakarta