Gus Dur supporters rally

Gus Dur supporters rally

PURWOKERTO, Central Java: At least 300 people calling
themselves "The Anti-New Order Society" marched here on Friday in
support of President Abdurrahman Wahid.

They also demanded that the Golkar Party be dissolved, saying
the party is the source of all conflicts in the nation.

"We demand Golkar be dissolved. The Bulog and Brunei scandals
that they tried to blow open broke apart this nation," they
protested, referring to the financial scandals in which President
Abdurrahman is allegedly involved.

The President's supporters also censured People's Consultative
Assembly Speaker Amien Rais for trying to oust President
Abdurrahman.

Mochamad Ihsan, coordinator of a group calling itself Banyumas
Muslims, said over 200,000 supporters could be amassed to protect
the President.

"We will only calm down once (House of Representatives
Speaker) Akbar Tandjung and Amien stop trying to oust Gus Dur,"
they said, referring to Abdurrahman by his nickname.

The group then burned several Golkar party symbols and an
effigy of Akbar Tandjung before dispersing late in the
afternoon.(45)