Gus Dur's candidacy and human rights

Gus Dur's candidacy and human rights

From Koran Tempo

Anybody who feels disinclined to vote for former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, who has impaired eyesight, should refrain from doing so in the July 5 presidential election. However, nobody has the right to prevent him from joining the race for the presidency.

The General Elections Commission (KPU), which has gone beyond its powers and become a "constitutional executor", has no right to ban him either, because it is only in charge of the arrangements for holding general elections.

More absurdly, the judicial authority "borrowed" by the KPU has been "delegated" to the Indonesian Doctors Association. The right of Gus Dur or anybody else to run for the presidency can only be annulled if he or she is proven guilty of criminal charges or of treason.

Therefore, it is wise to leave it to the electorate, via the July 5 election, to decide the right choice. In the meantime, if the Supreme Court later turns down an appeal by Gus Dur and the National Awakening Party, I would like to suggest that their followers avoid an emotional response.

The struggle for constitutional democracy indeed takes a long time. People in the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court are not all well-versed in the true essence of democracy.

MAWARDI Tokyo, Japan