Gus Dur calls for patience

PASURUAN, East Java (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid told members of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and his supporters here on Friday to stop their destructive acts, exercise restraint and try to understand the process of democracy.

Speaking after noon prayers at Al-Anwar Grand Mosque in Pasuruan, some 60 kilometers east of Surabaya, the President told the 10,000 people in the congregation, mostly NU members, that NU members were enraged. "It's just due to the memorandum (from the House of Representatives/DPR). We all should be patient as taught in the holy Koran."

The President's entourage included, among others, Military Commander Adm. Widodo AS.

He was referring to a House memorandum of censure that was issued following the House's conclusion that he was involved in the Bulog and Brunei financial scandals.

Many had urged the President to travel to East Java to calm his supporters following the destruction of Golkar offices in Surabaya and other towns in the province.

East Java is a NU stronghold. Abdurrahman also chaired the largest Muslim organization for 15 years before being elected President.

Mujib Imron, chairman of the NU chapter in Pasuruan, told the President that NU members had tried to restrain themselves and to maintain order in the province.

"But things depend on those who made the memorandum. Yet they plan to hasten the People's Consultative Assembly's (MPR) special session (to impeach Abdurrahman). You have told us (to be patient). But if they (the House members) make a new problem, and then Amien Rais and Akbar Tandjung. Who will be responsible, not you," Mujib said, referring to speakers of MPR and DPR respectively.

In an emotional tone, Mujib also asked the President to have the Golkar Party disbanded for the transgressions it committed in its 32 years in power.

Responding to the request, the President said that disbanding Golkar was not as easy as people thought. "Let's wait for the next election. I will disclose all the sins Golkar really committed. People will see its evil.

"It would be better for NU members now to restrain themselves and be more patient than to think about disbanding Golkar. I believe that my visit to Pasuruan is the most appropriate step to diminish the people's anger."

The President said in Jakarta on Thursday that his visit would only calm down NU members for one or two days.

Separately, National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro told reporters in Jakarta on Friday that eight people suspected of vandalism in Surabaya had been arrested. He declined to identify the suspects, or the group to which they belong.

He said that East Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Sutanto would not be replaced despite the fact that a legislator in House Commission I for political affairs wanted Sutanto to be replaced due to his failure to prevent the recent mayhem in the province.

10 arrests

During the dialog, the President unexpectedly revealed that 10 prominent people would be apprehended within three weeks.

"They are all leaders," he said without going into detail. He assured the people, however, that Attorney General Marzuki Darusman had confirmed the plan (to arrest the 10) as part of legal efforts to uphold the reform movement.

The President also expressed pleasure at installing Baharuddin Lopa as minister of justice and human rights to replace Yusril Ihza Mahendra,

He said he saluted Lopa, who he called intrepid.

"This man is fearless. He deserves to be an NU member," he said jokingly, which was applauded by the audience.

The President then proceeded to the East Java capital of Surabaya to talk with some 100 ulemas and public figures about the recent chaos in the province.

He told the audience packing the Grahadi gubernatorial hall that, based on military reports, certain groups in several towns had plotted the destruction of Golkar, National Mandate Party (PAN) and Muhammadiyah office buildings in East Java.

The President did not specify the groups clearly, but hinted that the groups were involved in the July 27, 1996 violence in Jakarta when the government and military-backed groups forcefully took over the office of the then Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) led by Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Meanwhile, chairman of the East Java Muhammadiyah, Fasichul Lisan, who was also invited to the discussion, expressed disillusionment that not all attacks on properties by the President's supporters were justified.

"It was a one-sided meeting. There had been a plan to give chances to certain people to speak up. I wanted to disclose things about the Muhammadiyah office's destruction, but I was not given the chance to speak."

In Yogyakarta the National Committee for Muhammadiyah Younger Generation condemned on Friday the violent actions of the President's supporters toward Muhammadiyah's property.

Paryanto Rohma, the committee coordinator, said the committee was impatient to see Muhammadiyah made a scapegoat of the current political uproar.

"If the actions were just because of Amien Rais' criticism of Gus Dur, they (the attackers) should know that Amien's move had nothing to do with Muhammadiyah." (nur/23/ylt/sur)