Gus Dur had better step down

Gus Dur had better step down

From Rakyat Merdeka

The fact that the number of Indonesian refugees in Indonesia
is close to one million people has badly wounded our nationalism
and humanity, the two qualities which we have maintained all
these years. Huge funds, which may not be allocated in the
state/regional budget, will be needed to alleviate the plight of
the refugees and find the best solution to their problems.

One of the ways to make available these funds will be to use
the non-budgetary funds reportedly worth trillions of rupiah,
kept by the State Logistics Agency (Bulog), state-owned
enterprises and other government institutions. These funds may be
disbursed only by a presidential or vice presidential decree.

In my opinion the tension between the President and the
legislature stems from the President's frequently controversial
attitude and his habit of playing down the nation's serious
problems. If this tension continues, the life of the nation in
all areas will be adversely affected.

The fact is that at present President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur"
Wahid no longer enjoys sufficient political support from the
House of Representatives, as evident from the issuance of the
first memorandum, which is very likely to be followed by a second
and finally a special session of the People's Consultative
Assembly (MPR). It seems certain that in the special session the
President will be constitutionally discharged from his position.

This may hardly affect Gus Dur and his family because from the
start, he actually had no desire to be President. Unfortunately,
this constitutional discharge may adversely affect members of the
National Awakening Party (PKB) and Nahdlatul Ulama (NU). They may
be ostracized by the public, a situation harmful to the
development of PKB/NU in the future. PKB/NU leaders must be aware
of this possibility.

Therefore, for the sake of the nation's future, including the
future of members of PKB/NU, it is only proper if President Gus
Dur magnanimously and honorably relinquishes his presidency. In
this way, surely the people will always regard him as a national
figure and the nation's teacher. And he will be written about in
'golden ink' in the annals of the Indonesian nation.

H. SOEDIYONO ST

Jakarta