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)