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