GUS DUR IT IS

GUS DUR IT IS

JAKARTA (JP): Muslim scholar Abdurrahman Wahid took his oath
of office as president on Wednesday, becoming Indonesia's fourth
and only president to be elected democratically.

Abdurrahman, better known as Gus Dur, took the helm after
beating Megawati Soekarnoputri of the Indonesian Democratic Party
of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) in the election by People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR) members.

The 59 year old, an internationally acclaimed moderate Muslim
leader, read his oath before a plenary session of the Assembly
which was broadcast nationwide.

Present at the brief ceremony was his predecessor B.J.
Habibie, who appeared more relaxed than he had been these past
weeks when he struggled to keep hold of the presidency.
Abdurrahman's wife Sinta Nuriyah was seated next to Hasri Ainun,
the former first lady.

The partially blind Abdurrahman had to be assisted as he read
his oath, but spoke at ease later as he gave his inauguration
speech without reading from a text.

The speech threw some light on what his agenda would look
like.

It touched on Indonesia's free trade commitment, his desire to
bring prosperity to the country, defense of the nation's honor
and territorial integrity and the promotion of democracy.

"What lies ahead is a mighty task," President Abdurrahman
said, referring to the Assembly decrees that would become his
main portfolio for the next five years.

"This will not be an easy task, especially in the midst of a
very fierce era of international competition as we are resolved
in our commitment to free trade," he said.

"We are resolved to maintaining the principles maximizing
benefit and improving efficiency, and of using our rational minds
and the natural resources we possess to strengthen the life of
our people and raise their prosperity.

"The Assembly has asked me, with its supervision and guidance,
to promote justice and bring prosperity for the greatest number
of our people.

"Even as we face fierce international competition during this
difficult time, we will defend the integrity of our territory. We
have to defend the integrity of our territory when other
countries take light of our feelings and our honor.

"We will build our international relations on the principles
of mutual respect and values. We cannot accept other countries
and nations passing judgment on us.

"We need to put in place the framework for a prosperous life
for our people. This will not be an easy task, especially now in
the midst of conflicting points of views and when ties that have
bound us as a nation are unraveling.

"Let me cite Bung Karno's teaching that we have a reason to
remain as one nation. We have to uphold this teaching," he said
referring to Sukarno, Indonesia's first president and father of
his presidential rival.

President Abdurrahman thanked Megawati for her participation
in the election and for accepting defeat.

"Democracy can only be sustained and developed by people who
understand its essence. I hope that we can comprehend this and
sustain the framework that will take us to the future. This is
the only way to uphold sovereignty, justice, freedom of
expression, and equal treatment for all irrespective of blood,
language, culture and faith," he said.

He drew laughter from the crowd when he said he had no
intention of making a lengthy speech, "because the longer I speak
the more we have to account for later".

Tense

Megawati went into the General Session of the Assembly, which
began on Oct. 1, as the early favorite to win the presidency as
her party had one the highest number of votes in the June 7
general election.

However, at the 700-seat Assembly, which is comprised of 500
House of Representative members and representatives from interest
groups and regional factions, the party's electoral superiority
translated to only 185 seats.

Incumbent B.J. Habibie on Wednesday morning announced he was
withdrawing his nomination after the Assembly had earlier
rejected his accountability speech.

By Wednesday morning there were four candidates --
Abdurrahman, Megawati, Golkar Party chairman Akbar Tandjung and
Crescent Star Party chairman Yusril Ihza Mahendra.

But before the start of voting there was high drama as Akbar
and Yusril suddenly withdrew their nominations.

No official reason was given for Akbar's withdrawal, but
Golkar Party officials admitted that there was internal friction.

Golkar executive Ekky Syahrudin confirmed there was the
friction over Akbar's nomination, despite Habibie's instruction
that he run to replace the incumbent.

"It's because of the friction that Akbar withdrew," Ekky said.

There was also animosity among some Golkar members toward
Akbar as he was considered unfaithful in attempts to get the
presidential accountability accepted.

Ekky contended that Golkar had also not sought support for
Akbar's candidacy.

"When Akbar's name was forwarded we had not conducted talks
with the 'axis force'," he remarked.

Yusril, who was considered but a minor candidate, left his
withdrawal until the very last minute.

Asking permission from Assembly Speaker Amien Rais to make
announcement to the floor, Yusril said: "I ask forgiveness for
this resignation. This is purely out of respect for my brother
Abdurrahman Wahid ... It is for the sake of unity among Muslims".

Yusril had been part of the loose alliance of Muslim-based
parties and the National Mandate Party, known as the axis force,
that had nominated Abdurrahman.

United Development Party deputy chairman Zarkasih Nur later
revealed that the party had been "influential" in getting Yusril
to withdraw.

With only two candidates remaining, the Assembly split its
support in two, with the eventual winner earning victory by 60
seats.

During Wednesday's election, 691 votes were cast. Abdurrahman
defeated Megawati 373 to 313 votes, with five abstentions.

Since the start of the sessions, Assembly members did away
with using the expensively electronic voting equipment installed
on their desks and thus the voting was conducted the old-
fashioned way of using paper ballots in a voting booth.

During and after the ballot, there was no evident sign of
rivalry between the two leading candidates. The rapport between
Abdurrahman and Megawati was evident as the latter, after casting
her vote, went up to whisper a few words to Abdurrahman, who was
seated awaiting his turn.

When the Abdurrahman was declared the winner, Megawati was
right there holding hands with him, as the president-elect made a
hasty statement.

Abdurrahman proclaimed it as the second independence day and
spoke words of support for his rival.

"Even though I am ill, she never brought this issue up (during
the campaigns). Therefore Megawati and her supporters must be
respected," Abdurrahman asserted.

Megawati did her best to maintain her poise but her heartbreak
became evident when tears welled in her eyes.

Several minutes later she made a statement, saying that
everyone had seen the results of the voting and "my brother
Abdurrahman Wahid had received more votes".

"I call on all Indonesian people to see these results," she
said.

The Assembly's main hall erupted into cheers as Abdurrahman's
supporters hugged and yelled religious slogans to praise their
victory.

If hours earlier it was Golkar Party members who slumped in
their seats following the defeat of the accountability speech,
now it was PDI Perjuangan's turn.

It took Speaker Amien Rais several attempts to get the session
back in order and called on everyone present to sing the national
anthem.

About an hour later, president-elect Abdurrahman visited his
predecessor's residence in Kuningan, South Jakarta.

Following the meeting, Abdurrahman had kind words for Habibie.

"Of course he has his shortcomings, but don't only look at
that ... My task now is to continue the democratization process
that Habibie started." (team)