Gus Dur hints at giving support to defiant Megawati

JAKARTA (JP): Abdurrahman Wahid, chief of the 30-million strong Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), has pledged to help support Megawati Soekarnoputri, the besieged chief of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).

Abdurrahman, who is known to be close to Megawati, said yesterday he had half-opened his door to her in support of her cause.

He said many NU activists were traditionally supporters of the conservative Moslem-oriented United Development Party (PPP), which is PDI's closest competitor.

"If I fully open my door (to Megawati), they (PPP members) may chase and 'butcher' me," Abdurrahman told The Jakarta Post.

"You know the PPP is scared the PDI will outshine it in next year's election, capturing its position as second fiddle after Golkar (the ruling party)."

Abdurrahman, affectionally known as Gus Dur, was discussing the leadership crisis now plaguing the PDI, an alliance of nationalist and small Christian parties.

Megawati, a daughter of Indonesia's first president Sukarno, has been claiming massive grassroots support since she was toppled by her rivals in a government-backed congress last week.

Megawati, who was democratically elected in an extraordinary congress in 1993, has received much popular support. She adamantly claims to be the party's legitimate boss.

The government has shifted its recognition of PDI's leadership from her to Soerjadi, who was elected in last week's rebel congress. On Thursday, Director General for Sociopolitical Affairs Sutoyo NK announced that the government would no longer recognize Megawati's camp.

Supporters of Megawati have been pouring onto the streets to voice their rejection of the rebel congress and to denounced the government's support for Soerjadi.

Abdurrahman made headlines in local newspapers last week when he appeared at the foreign correspondent club in Jakarta while Megawati was giving a press conference. He said he had swung his support behind Megawati.

He said yesterday the government wants to see Megawati toppled because of a survey which indicated that her popularity could win up to 40 percent of the vote in next year's general election.

Golkar would receive only 40 percent of the vote and the PPP the remaining 20 percent, he said: "If the estimate is true, Indonesia may have to change its whole (political) system."

The three political parties, PDI, PPP and Golkar, will contest 425 of the 500 seats in the House of Representatives next year. Of the 400 seats contested in the last general election, Golkar currently holds 282, the PPP holds 62 and the PDI holds 56.

From next year, the number of seats reserved for the Armed Forces will be reduced from 100 to 75.

Abdurrahman said he believed the current wave of pro-Megawati street demonstrations would not turn into a fully fledged people power movement which could pose a threat to government.

"What we have seen over the past few days are harsh responses from certain sectors of society. But the protests may snowball if the military resorts to brutality," he warned.

According to Abdurrahman, the emergence of a power-to-the- people movement could only occur if mass organizations united and mobilized their members to revolt.

The NU, Indonesia's largest Moslem organization, has been committed to its socio-educational mission and has avoided straying into politics since 1984.

Its leadership, however, allows its members to engage in political activities according to their own beliefs.

Abdurrahman, well-known for his controversial political and religious views, said that the current political tension sparked by the PDI coup has contributed positively to the growth of democracy in Indonesia.

He said the bureaucracy's support for PDI rebels has put the government on the defensive.

"Now young people stare at a nervous government. This is good for democracy," said Abdurrahman, who also chairs Forum Demokrasi (a democratic discussion group).

He said that not all government and military officials agree with Soerjadi's appointment over Megawati.

The different stances are reflected in the way that security officials handled pro-Megawati PDI activists in different places, he said.

In Yogyakarta, for example, observers were dumbfounded when demonstrators held an eight kilometer street march without the usual backlash from security officers, he said. (pan)