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)