Gus Dur lashes out at Islamic caucus

Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Former president Abdurrahman Wahid, familiarly known as Gus Dur, lashed out at the possible establishment of a caucus of Muslim political leaders, saying it would be of no benefit to the people.

"It doesn't mean a thing. Moreover, who cares? I don't. And the (Muslim) community doesn't care about it.

"I am telling you the truth. I know this for sure because I have being touring around the country recently to listen to the people. It's only a game being played out by the elite... let them be... It benefits only the House of Representatives members and the politicians," he said without elaborating further.

Gus Dur, who is also the former chairman of the country's largest Muslim organization Nadhlatul Ulama was responding to recent meetings of Islamic political leaders that could possibly lead to the establishment of a political caucus. He made his remarks prior to a ceremony marking the fourth anniversary of former president Soeharto's resignation at the Proclamation Monument in Central Jakarta on Monday.

Gus Dur has said several times that he no longer has confidence in (Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly -- MPR) Amien Rais, whom he says betrayed him by supporting the MPR special session that unseated him last July.

Initiated by Amien, a number of Muslim political leaders have been holding meetings with a view to enhancing Muslim solidarity and reducing their differences on various political issues. Amien has denied that the meetings were aimed at enhancing unity among Muslim leaders in confronting nationalist-oriented political parties in the 2004 general election.

NU Deputy Chairman Solahuddin Wahid was one of the Muslim figures attending the recent series of meetings.