Gus Dur visits spiritual elders for blessing
Gus Dur visits spiritual elders for blessing
PURWOKERTO, Central Java (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid
visited on Thursday one of his spiritual elders, Habib Hamid in
the regency of Banyumas, asking to be blessed and for moral
support in leading the nation.
Hasan, one of Habib's aides, told reporters that the President
just asked for the elder's blessing and prayers so that the
country could be free from tempest. "Such request was asked
several times."
The trip to Habib Hamid's residence was made after a visit to
the Al-Asariyah Islamic Boarding School (Pesantren) and a meeting
with supporters of the Nahdlatul Ulama in Wonosobo, some 130
kilometers west of Purwokerto.
Gus Dur led Nahdlatul Ulama for 15 years before being elected
President.
It was not an easy trip for the President and his entourage,
including Minister of National Education Yahya Muhaimin. They had
to travel a one-meter wide path toward to small house of the
spiritual leader in Sokaraja village in Banyumas.
The 4x10 square meter home of the 75-year-old kyai
apparently made it difficult for photographers to take pictures.
Gus Dur was seen sitting on the floor covered with a small
green carpet when the conversation took place.
Thirty minutes later the President left for the Al-Hikmah
Pesantren in Brebes. The trip ended before dark when the
President stopped over at Minister Yahya's home, located only
seven kilometers from the pesantren.
The unofficial trip may evoke further speculation amid the
rumors of an extra-marital relationship between the President and
a woman identified as Aryanti Sitepu.
Meanwhile in Jakarta, National Police Chief Gen. Rusdihardjo
disclosed on Thursday his plan to summon Aryanti as part of
police proactive measures in investigating the alleged extra-
marital affair.
The police chief said they wanted to cross check Aryanti's
claims.
Without explaining Aryanti's legal status during the planned
questioning, Rusdihardjo expressed his hope that the woman would
cooperate with police and be truthful.
"We want to know what is going on, about the trustworthiness
of the report. Secondly we want to know about motives, for
instance for defamation purpose," Rusdihardjo said. (45/prb/sur)