Gus Dur barred from visiting Gajah Mada campus

Gus Dur barred from visiting Gajah Mada campus

YOGYAKARTA (JP): After eulogizing about the long road to
democracy which Indonesia must travel, President Abdurrahman
Wahid found out later on Friday that not all roads are open to
him after students blocked streets preventing his visit to the
Gadjah Mada University (UGM) campus.

Not long after telling those who had attended Friday prayers
that the current turmoil is part of the long road to democracy
which must be traveled, Abdurrahman personally experienced the
simmering political resentment against him in some corners of
society.

Hundreds of students, calling themselves the Student Alliance
Against the Politicization of the Campus, formed a human
barricade on main roads leading to the Gadjah Mada University
campus to prevent the President's scheduled visit.

The President was due to inaugurate a tree conservation
movement.

Initially, police were seen at about 1.30 p.m. on Jl.
Kaliurang trying to break up the blockade ahead of the
President's arrival. The effort resulted in a shoving match which
almost turned into an open clash.

A water cannon vehicle was also deployed to force open a route
for the presidential entourage, but to no avail.

Eventually, upon hearing news of the commotion and after
advice from police, the President decided to call off his visit.

Later, before heading back to Jakarta after his brief one-day
visit to Yogyakarta, Abdurrahman said that he canceled the visit
because he did not want the situation to worsen.

"I apologize for not going to Gadjah Mada. This is to avoid
bloodshed," he told senior officials from the university
who farewelled him at Adisutjipto airport.

"If violence occurred it just wouldn't be right," the
President added.

The tree conservation inauguration was eventually held in the
VIP lounge of the airport.

One of the coordinators of the student blockade said that they
refused to allow Abdurrahman on campus out of fear of the
eventual effects it would have on the political allegiance of
students.

"His visit is merely a ploy to seek legitimacy and support
from academics and students," Dani Irawan said.

"This is very dangerous and could bring about political
fissures between students," he added.

Gadjah Mada University rector Ichlasul Amal told reporters
after the President had departed that the students who came from
18 universities in the area had initially wanted to conduct a
dialog with the President.

According to Ichlasul, an incident occurred in which 20
students were detained by security officers, which incited rage
and led to the blockade.

Democracy

Earlier in the day following Friday prayers, Abdurrahman said
that Indonesia is currently following a path which must be
endured to achieve democracy.

He noted that democratization required a cultural
transformation from a paternalistic to an independent society.

"Our society is still a paternalistic society which cannot
take any initiative for itself ... Democracy will develop in a
society that is independent," he said in the post prayer dialog
at Taqwa Mosque in Wonokromo, Bantul regency.

Abdurrahman reminded that developing an independent society
was very difficult.

"There are many false reports in the mass media about me.
Actually I can file a lawsuit against these journalists or the
media but I don't do that because I don't want to scare them. If
they are scared, the independent society will not grow," he
claimed.

Asked what possible impediments his government was facing in
implementing total reform, Abdurrahman replied that he is faced
with large and complex problems which were remnants of the New
Order regime.

He stressed the need for moral bravery and wisdom to implement
total reform. He further highlighted the presence of corruption
cases.

"We must be patient," he said while citing a Javanese proverb
which counsels that one can walk slowly as long as they reach
their destination. (23/27/edt/44)