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