Gus Dur lashes out at Islamic caucus

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.