Gus Dur opens 12th Ansor congress

Gus Dur opens 12th Ansor congress

BOYOLALI, Central Java (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid
opened the 12th congress of the Ansor Youth Movement (GP Ansor),
the youth wing of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), here on Thursday, calling
on the youth to remain critical in their approach to national
problems.

Present at the ceremony held at the Dorohudan Haj Dormitory,
about 10 kilometers from Surakarta, were Minister of Home Affairs
Surjadi Soedirdja, head of NU's law-making body Sahal Mahfudz and
Minister of Tourism Djaelani Hidayat.

"I do hope that members of Ansor live their lives honestly and
are aware of the reality and aspirations of the people," said
Abdurrahman, who is also a patron and former chief of NU, the
country's largest Muslim organization which boasts 30 million
supporters.

The youth wing is known for its banser civilian guards, said
to be one million strong.

In his opening speech, Abdurrahman said he remembered how
Ansor strongly criticized him for the handling of the graft
allegations concerning former president Soeharto.

"Once, I said that I would pardon Soeharto and B.J. Habibie if
they were found guilty of graft. Then I was called gombal (empty
talk) and plin plan (inconsistent)".

"(But) It's impossible to press a former ruler too hard and
expect to get the money back. He (Soeharto) might as well run
abroad and take the money with him...If we're strict all the
time, everybody will be in jail," Abdurrahman added.

More than 1,900 provincial Ansor representatives from across
the country are due to elect a new chief for the 2000 to 2005
term during the five day congress.

Among the strong contenders for the top post are incumbent
Syaifulloh Yusuf who is Abdurrahman's nephew, former secretary-
general of GP Ansor Saefulah Maksum and chairman of the
Association of Indonesian Muslim Student Movement Khotibul Uman
Wirono. (har/edt)