Gus Dur receives tolerance award

Gus Dur receives tolerance award

JAKARTA: Former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid received
the Global Tolerance Award from "Friends of the United Nations"
in New York, the United States, on Wednesday.

The handing-over ceremony was held at the United Nations
Headquarters in conjunction with World Human Rights Day, Antara
reported from New York on Wednesday.

The award was given by a non-governmental organization in
recognition of Gus Dur's activities in promoting interreligious
and cultural cooperation in the world.

The former president has encouraged civil societies to create
peace, tolerance and solidarity, the committee said.

Other figures to receive the award include Ramaz Aptsiauri of
the Republic of Georgia and Richard Steckel of Bermuda.

Gus Dur replaced BJ Habibie as president in October 1999.

The People's Consultative Assembly, however, removed Gus Dur
in July 2001.

Gus Dur, who once headed the country's largest Islamic
organization, the Nahdlatul Ulama, was then replaced by his vice
president, Megawati Soekarnoputri. --Antara