'Gus Dur' sells for Rp 11m

'Gus Dur' sells for Rp 11m

JAKARTA (JP): A caricature depicting the chairman of the
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Islamic organization Abdurrahman Wahid
praying sold for Rp 11 million at an auction here on Friday,
while his cap went for Rp 10 million.

The caricature of Gus Dur, as Abdurrahman is commonly known,
went to a young businessman identified as Andre. His cap was
bought by the director of Matari advertising company, Ken
Sidharta.

Matori Abdul Djalil, the chairman of the People's Awakening
Party (PKB), said the auction, dubbed The Night of Nine Stars
with Gus Dur, was organized to raise funds for the party, which
draws most of its members from NU.

"We hope to raise around Rp 1 billion," Matori was quoted by
Antara as saying.

Gus Dur himself was not present at the auction. Celebrities
Rudi Djamil, Hetty Koes Endang and Cahyono were the auctioneers
for the evening and former finance minister Fuad Bawazir and
businesswoman Siti Hartati Murdaya were spotted leaving before
the bidding got underway.

In addition to Gus Dur's belongings -- including his blanket
-- the auction also offered a number of items from Cirebon
Palace, including batik and some fine examples of calligraphy,
along with some reproduction Vincent van Gogh paintings. (ste)