Gus Dur presents report of people's wishes to Habibie

Gus Dur presents report of people's wishes to Habibie

JAKARTA (JP): Chairman of the largest Muslim organization
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Abdurrahman Wahid met with President B.J.
Habibie on Sunday to present a 300-page report of people's
aspirations conveyed to him during Ramadhan.

After the meeting Minister of Justice also said the President
had agreed to a clemency for political prisoner Budiman
Sudjatmiko, chairman of the Democratic People's Party (PRD).

"The president has agreed to a clemency, but we need
suggestions from the Supreme Court," Muladi said.

Muladi, who had announced Thursday that a number of political
prisoners would be released, said the necessary documents
regarding the prisoners were to be sent soon to the Supreme
Court.

Budiman is serving a 13-year sentence while other PRD
activists are serving lighter sentences.

Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces Commander Gen.
Wiranto and Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung were also
present for a discussion held at Habibie's residence in Kuningan,
South Jakarta.

The meeting, originally scheduled for Saturday evening, was
changed at Abdurrahman's request.

During Ramadhan, Abdurrahman, known as Gus Dur, held a daily
open house at his residence until the Idul Fitri festival which
fell on Jan. 19. The report was compiled during this time.

The 300 pages was only the summary, Abdurrahman said.

The President instructed Wiranto and Muladi -- chairman and
deputy chairman of the government-formed Council for Enforcement
of Security and Law -- to study the report, he said.

Abdurrahman also conveyed the results of meetings held with
various parties and foreign leaders during his recent visit to
Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium.

Foreign leaders were urged "to make plans to invest in
Indonesia immediately after the elections", as the country would
be quite safe, he said.

During the meeting he said Wiranto had assured him that
problems in the ravaged Maluku province, where at least 166 have
died, "could be settled within a month".

He added that, at Wiranto's request, his plan to visit Ambon
would be delayed until calm returned to the province.

Abdurrahman said that Wiranto was working on problems
regarding the distribution of foodstuffs in Ambon. Even though
trucks of provisions are guarded, irregularities in allocation
have been reported.

Small

Abdurrahman reiterated his belief that unrest in several parts
of the country, including Maluku, would end soon.

"The riots do not touch the soul (of the state)."

Separatist movements in Aceh, Irian Jaya and Maluku were not
supported by the majority of the people, he said.

"It is only a small matter, but it is blown up by the press."

Following an outbreak of violence in Ambon early Saturday,
several of the injured remain in hospitals, while one had died
from stab wounds.

During the meeting, the President reiterated his plan to let
East Timor go by Jan. 1 next year if the people and the
international community reject his wide-ranging autonomy proposal
for the province. He assured Abdurrahman that Indonesia would
handle the transition in a responsible manner.

"During the transition period until March, the government is
ready to provide assistance," Muladi confirmed. He did not
provide any further details.

Muladi said the President asked Abdurrahman to convey his
commitment to the people in regard to the upcoming elections.

"Fair and just elections -- at any cost -- is his political
will. This is an extraordinary commitment from the government."

"We will meet the President again at an appropriate time,"
Abdurrahman said after the two-hour meeting.

Since returning from Germany, where he also had a health
checkup, Gus Dur has met again with former president Soeharto.

He also announced a forthcoming trip to Singapore, where he
will address a government think tank institution and meet with
Singapore senior minister Lee Kuan Yew. (prb)