Gus Dur-Habibie meeting called for

Gus Dur-Habibie meeting called for

SURABAYA (JP): Abdurrahman Wahid and B.J. Habibie, both
leaders of two of Indonesia's most influential Moslem
organizations, should meet and improve cooperation, a respected
ulema says.

K.H. Ilyas Ruchiyat, chairman of the syuriyah (law-making
body) of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), spoke yesterday of the perceived
distance between Abdurrahman, who chairs the executive board of
the 30-million strong NU, and Habibie who is the chairman of the
Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI). He told
The Jakarta Post it is the public and Moslem organizations that
would benefit should the two leaders meet in certain forums.

"They could improve cooperation between NU and ICMI," Ilyas
said.

The ulema was commenting on the growing calls for Abdurrahman,
better known as Gus Dur, to meet with Habibie and quell whatever
strain there may be between them.

The calls were made following the noteworthy meeting between
President Soeharto and Abdurrahman earlier this month, which
effectively ended speculations of the President's dislike of the
latter.

Some observers said proof of improving relations between
government officials and Abdurrahman, who leads the Forum
Demokrasi group of government critics, could be found in his
meeting with Army Chief of Staff Gen. R. Hartono a week later.

Immediately afterward, some suggested Abdurrahman should also
meet with Habibie, whose ICMI organization he often criticizes.

Ilyas said such meetings could only bode well for NU. "Nothing
is easy for NU. Sometimes its (leaders do things) that people
dislike. Sometimes, they do things that please people. What's
important is that we should never give up," he said.

"For the sake of NU, Gus Dur should meet with Habibie.
Organizationally, NU should also meet with ICMI," Ilyas said.

Ilyas, however, said he does not believe such meetings need to
be formally scheduled. "What's important is not whether these
Islamic organizations meet in one forum, but whether they can
improve their performance," he said. (25/swe)