Following whatever Gus Dur says

As a comment on responses by a number of factions in the House of Representatives (DPR) to the President answers to the interpellation on July 20, 2000, as widely reported in the media, the writer very much deplores the responses given by members of the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction, including that given by its general chairman Mr. H. Matori Jalil. They gave the impression that they simply wanted to give a response different from that voiced by other factions. What was out of place was that PKB faction members single-mindedly brushed aside decency and statesmanship, holding fast to the principle of "whatever the President says will be also what PKB will say".

As a mater of fact the general public would like to hear President Abdurrahman Wahid's honest responses because his allegations that Yusuf Kalla and Laksamana Sukardi were involved in collusion, nepotism and corruption is circumstantial.

It is feared that this single-minded attitude, ignoring sound, just and honest norms, has influenced the President, Gus Dur, as he popularly called, in responding to the interpellation.

Just like everybody else in the community the writer craves to see a peaceful atmosphere following an appropriate response by Gus Dur to the House members' interpellation. Therefore, the writer was very disappointed when Gus Dur demonstrated an arrogant attitude, construed by many as belittling the House, when answering the interpellation.

Furthermore, it is feared that Gus Dur's response will give rise to other problems. It is a pity that Gus Dur has made mountains of molehills just because he fell short of magnanimity. He might not have realized that being magnanimous would be in the interests of the people.

Gus Dur has once again thrown away a golden opportunity to rectify his negligence. He has instead wasted his legitimacy. Therefore, if it should happen that he does not make it to 2004, the final year of his term of office, his own actions will have been responsible and not any connivance of the DPR or the People's Consultative Assembly. In other words, Gus Dur will have stumbled over pebbles that he himself has uncontrollably thrown.

Therefore, the writer calls upon the leaders and members of the PKB faction to introspect and put the interest of the people above selfish agendas. Dumping of the party arrogance is the only way to support the establishment of an atmosphere conducive to peace among the political elite and later among the people.

H. WISDARMANTO GS

Jakarta