Full-blown support given to Gus Dur worries politicians

Full-blown support given to Gus Dur worries politicians

SURABAYA (JP): More politicians expressed concern and worry on
Friday over support given out of proportion to President
Abdurrahman Wahid.

House of Representatives legislator from the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) Zulfan Lindan and
Ekky Syahruddin of Golkar Party told a discussion held in
conjunction with the sixth congress of the Muslim Students
Association Alumni (KAHMI) here that the behavior of
Abdurrahman's supporters could drag the conflict between the
political elite into fighting between the masses.

According to Zulfan, the fanaticism was reflected by mounting
allegations that an interpellation motion and an inquiry into
alleged graft linked to the President by the House were aimed at
toppling Gus Dur, as the President is affectionately called.

"Even a Muslim cleric like Kyai Said Aqil Siradj has spoken of
the possibility of (the supporters) using machetes to secure Gus
Dur's position," Zulfan said.

Said is the deputy chairman of the law-making body of the
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Muslim organization, which was once chaired
by Abdurrahman.

The House has voted overwhelmingly to summon Abdurrahman for
questioning over his controversial policies. The questioning is
scheduled for July 20. No date has been set for the inquiry into
the scandal which allegedly involved members of Abdurrahman's
inner circle.

Also speaking at the dialog was Fuad Bawazier, a legislator at
the People's Consultative Assembly representing the National
Mandate Party (PAN). Zulfan, Ekky and Fuad are KAHMI members, as
is Taufikurrahman Saleh of the National Awakening Party (PKB),
who failed to turn up for the dialog due to another commitment in
Jakarta.

Zulfan defended the House's critical stance against
Abdurrahman, saying it was just a natural response to the
President's inconsistent policies.

Ekky echoed the signal of conflict between the political elite
in the parliament, saying it was being directed at involving
people in the grassroots.

"Frankly, I regret that certain people resorted to deploying
the masses for the sake of Gus Dur. This means precious social
costs because when the conflict reaches public level, there will
be no winner and it will be very difficult to achieve a
compromise," Ekky warned.

Political observers in Jakarta also cautioned on Friday that
unseating Gus Dur would be too risky due to his large support.

Sociopolitical expert Imam Prasodjo said that overthrowing
Abdurrahman would provoke NU supporters to revolt.

"If he (the President) is overthrown, it would seem that he
was being played along by the Islamic modernists," Imam, a
lecturer at the University of Indonesia said. "As a result NU
would be very angry and the country would be ruined."

A similar caution was also voiced by the chairman of the newly
declared Indonesian Axis, Eros Djarot.

"Overthrowing Gus Dur will only incite anger," he said without
elaborating. "If (people) are moved from a nice place to a bad
one, of course there will be anger," he said.

Imam and Eros were speaking at a discussion evaluating the
present government's performance, which was organized by the
Institute for Political Studies. Also speaking at the discussion
was Abdul Qadir Djaelani of the Crescent Star Party (PBB).
(10/nur)