Gus Dur's bombshell

Gus Dur's bombshell

For common people, to plant land mines is considered a serious
violation of the law. For a religious leader to do so is more
than a sin. For religious leader Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) to
explode a bomb as the nation approaches its year end was
considered by some, and the perpetrator himself, just "a service
to the nation".

At the height of the country's political turmoil, economic
uncertainty, internal insecurity and mutual distrust, with
hundred of thousands of students still restlessly and listlessly
roaming around, he made calls to President Habibie, Armed Forces
Commander Wiranto and also to ousted former president Soeharto.

He suggested that the four, including himself, should meet in
a national dialog to ease political and social tension, which Gus
Dur said was on the verge of exploding.

With whatever praise-worthy intention he had in mind when
proposing this "illogical meeting", history would judge him as
too naive to still rely on the cooperation of a fallen hero.

The big question many have asked was why should this
influential man admit in public that the antireformist current
has become too strong to be overcome? The critics asked why
should he exclude other groups which had so heroically
contributed to the downfall of the former regime.

It would be more logical if he had pressed for the dissolution
of House of Representatives/People's Consultative Assembly
instead, and include leaders of the newly formed parties or
organizations. What did he think of the two bulls still roaming
around, if the power holders recognized only one with the general
election approaching?

If the voice of the students is not consulted, and suggestions
from reformist groupings ignored, the tide may be turning again,
and the whole nation will land, spiritually and mentality, on
square one once more. Power and wealth would reign again and
democracy be as illusive as ever. The rock may be hard to remove
but to give up halfway is a senseless exercise. There is, in
fact, no time for political experiments involving undemocratic
forces from the past.

Gus Dur's bombshell, however, was so well-controlled that it
did not result in craters or cause material damage but it did
succeed in adding to the already prevailing confusion. Many, I am
sure, would pay homage to Gus Dur, if the bombshell had caused
prices of basic commodities to tumble.

If this influential religious leader is an ardent lover of
Beethoven's work, such as his Ninth Symphony, one may understand
his reasoning. The Ninth Symphony calls on the people of the
world to regard each other as brothers and sisters (Alle Menschen
werden Bruder). That is also why the United Nations adopted it as
its official hymn.

It would be useful for Gus Dur to know that Beethoven once
dedicated his fifth symphony Eroica to Napoleon, who first fought
for the cause of the common people. But the great composer was
later very much disappointed when Napoleon crowned himself to
Emperor and arrested the Pope for that purpose.

GANDHI SUKARDI

Jakarta