Gus Dur quits hospital, told to have total rest

JAKARTA (JP): Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) leader Abdurrahman Wahid was discharged from Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital in Central Jakarta yesterday after two months of treatment for a stroke.

"He left the hospital this afternoon," NU deputy secretary- general Arifin Junaidi told The Jakarta Post by phone, adding that Abdurrahman returned to his house in Ciganjur, South Jakarta.

Arifin said doctors thought Abdurrahman no longer required constant medical attention.

"Abdurrahman is in very good condition and there is nothing to worry about," Arifin quoted a doctor as saying yesterday,

Arifin, however, quickly pointed out that doctors have advised Abdurrahman to rest another month before returning to his office duties.

"There will be no seminars or interviews whatsoever (for Abdurrahman) during that month," Arifin said.

The leader of the 30-million-strong organization was rushed to the hospital on the night of Jan. 19 after he fell unconscious in a bathroom at the NU headquarters a few hours after addressing a breaking of the fast gathering.

He underwent brain surgery after doctors confirmed that he had suffered a stroke.

More than a thousand people have visited Abdurrahman in the hospital during his recovery.

The display of sympathy and support had even prompted his family to appeal to the public, including NU members outside of Jakarta, not to visit him.

The flurry of prominent figures, officials and government critics visiting the 57-year-old scholar included former Jakarta governor Ali Sadikin, former cabinet minister Emil Salim, ousted leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party Megawati Soekarnoputri, leader of the 28-million strong Moslem organization Muhammadiyah Amien Rais, then-State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie and Lt. Gen. Prabowo Subianto who was then commander of the Army's special forces (Kopassus).

President Soeharto also sent Abdurrahman a bouquet of flowers, while then vice president Try Sutrisno sent a fruit basket.

Abdurrahman is the grandson of NU's founding father Hasyim Asy'ari, and the son of former NU chairman Wahid Hasyim.

He is also known as a prominent government critic and an influential commentator on political and social issues. (byg)