Gus Dur told to prove his competence

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Embattled President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid was met on Friday with a rare challenge to prove that he is capable of immediately defusing the myriad problems the country is facing.

The intriguing remarks were aired by senior Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) cleric Attabik Ali, whom the President visited and talked with for about 80 minutes during his trip to the sultanate town.

"He (Abdurrahman) should thoroughly contemplate the reality in political, economic, social and security fields before making decisions," Attabik, who runs the Ali Maksum Islamic boarding school in Krapyak, Bantul regency, south of here, said.

The cleric said that Gus Dur should act as a leader who carried out all duties mandated to him.

"When the President was inaugurated, through (fellow cleric) Abdurahman Chudlori of Tegalrejo in Magelang, I sent him a message that he should embrace all parties," Attabik told the media, after his closed-door meeting with the President, who himself is a cleric who once chaired NU.

Attabik said he reiterated the message during the private talks.

He said he found it necessary to advise Abdurrahman because "frankly, there is an impression among the public that the President spends more time visiting the tombs of old figures than living people."

Since his election as President in October 1999, Abdurrahman has frequently visited the graves of noted clerics in Central Java and East Java.

Attabik said the President had a lot more duties to complete, particularly those related to the current political, social, economic and security situation.

"Although it's all up to Gus Dur whether to accept my advice, I hope that he uses his wisdom to immediately take action on my suggestions so that the national problems can be settled as soon as possible," he said.

After the tete-a-tete, the President participated in Friday prayers at the mosque in the compound of the boarding school.

In the public dialog following the prayers, Abdurrahman admitted that he had just been advised by some NU figures to be realistic in dealing with the political conflict and in his efforts to reach a compromise that could end the prolonged stalemate.

But the President renewed his pledge to stay in power for the sake of the 1945 Constitution. He said he would spare no effort in defending the Constitution, even if it cost him his life.

He said the Constitution stipulated that the president is bound to maintain national unity.

"For a president there is no escape from this obligation," he said.

For that reason, he asserted, he could not fulfill calls on him to resign, although he did not want to stay in office for too long.

"I am not unwilling (to resign), but I cannot, because then some provinces will secede," he said.

Abdurrahman also renewed calls on his supporters to refrain from violence, saying he could deal with the political battle himself.

"I know that many NU youths have sharpened their weapons, but I ask them to be patient and avoid engaging in violent acts. It's all right to stage rallies, but don't resort to violence," he said.

The President expected the current dispute among the political elite to soon end with a political compromise.

"Leave it to me, God willing, this will soon be settled," Abdurrahman said, immediately applauded by the congregation. (44)