Gus Dur's gathering not seeking to rock the boat

YOGYAKARTA (JP): A group of prominent intellectuals gathered last week at Moslem leader Abdurrahman Wahid's residence in Ciganjur, South Jakarta, warning the country against social disintegration.

The group called for national solidarity in order to cope with the ongoing monetary crisis in a written statement titled the "Ciganjur Appeal". The appeal also stated that a "willingness from those who have the economic or political power to sacrifice" was needed.

Among the participants were human rights campaigner Marzuki Darusman, Todung Mulya Lubis, Asmara Nababan, philosopher and Catholic priest Franz Magnis-Suseno, scholars Harry Tjan Silalahi, Moeslim Abdurrahman and Ignas Kleden, senior journalist Goenawan Mohamad and ulema-cum-poet Mustofa Bisri.

Led by Abdurrahman -- better known as Gus Dur -- and Jakarta's Archbishop Julius Cardinal Darmaatmadja, the Dec. 23 gathering has caused some speculation over whether a new alliance is emerging, seeking a better leverage for "grassroots dissidents".

Political scientist Riswandha Imawan of Gadjah Mada University, however, disagreed with speculators' use of the word "dissidents" and concluded that Abdurrahman Wahid and his friends were not seeking to "rock the system".

The following are Riswandha's views on the gathering.

Question: How do you view the gathering at Gus Dur's?

Answer: I believe the gathering was a cultural protest aimed at the government. It involved people from various religious, ethnic, cultural and professional backgrounds. They were all concerned about the recent situation facing Indonesia.

The gathering was meant to highlight the numerous violations of the principles that guide Indonesian politics today. For instance, the principles (that politics) should be accommodating and balanced.

We have been boasting about how our political system is able to accommodate change, that it is balanced. It's not.

The gathering was a display of good faith intentions (by the participants) not to rock the system. They were there to reflect over the passing year...and give a warning, even though it was not heeded.

Don't see these people as dissidents because they are in fact loyalists -- people who love this country.

Q: They warned against attempts to disrupt the nation's social stability. What do you think of the warning?

A: I believe they made the statement in the context of national development which places an undue emphasis on economic aspects and causes the emergence of patterns of...exploitation. Those patterns demand absolute loyalty and create a close-minded attitude toward people with different approaches.

When (President Soeharto) became ill, rumors circulated that he was dying or had even died. What religions teach their followers to pray for another person's death?

The (intellectuals) who gathered at (Abdurrahman's) house were concerned that the country's physical development had not been accompanied by a spiritual development, causing many imbalances. Remember, the nation's development is supposed to nurture a healthy physical and spiritual development for Indonesians.

Q: In the meeting, Abdurrahman Wahid spoke out against revolution and for gradual reform. Do you think the social, economic and political situation in Indonesia merit the call?

A: We are in fact facing a crisis of legitimacy (on the part of the government) because the New Order's two main pillars have become shaky. These are the pillars of economic and political stability.

Social unrest in the form of riots (over the past two years) in Situbondo (in East Java), Tasikmalaya (in West Java), Banjarmasin (in South Kalimantan), Sanggau Ledo (in West Kalimantan), Ujungpandang (in South Sulawesi) and Timika (in Irian Jaya) all showed that the pillars have become unstable.

As a nation that believes in God, stipulated in the first tenet of the state ideology Pancasila, this severe crisis should remind us to ask for God's help.

Remember that when we toppled the Old Order regime (in the 1960s), we did it in the spirit of a cultural movement, in devotion to God. Now that we're facing another crisis, we should go back to such a devout way.

The (Ciganjur) gathering was held with a good attitude.

Q: The meeting in Ciganjur was also held to celebrate Christmas as well as to welcome the Islamic fasting month of Ramadhan. For some people, it was a controversial move. Do you think it will alienate Gus Dur among Moslems?

A: It is a classic problem for many Indonesian Moslem leaders. Because Moslems are the majority here, leaders are faced with two choices -- to be popular in the Moslem community but not at the national level, or to be popular at the national level but not in the Moslem community.

I believe that what Gus Dur wants is to be accepted by everybody. He is a humanitarian who does not want people to be trapped by walls they erect themselves.

Religions are here to help make our life easier, not to make things hard for us. The gathering should not be seen merely as a Christmas celebration (being hosted by a Moslem -- something which the Indonesian Council of Ulemas has prohibited).

It's the momentum (for the group's campaign) which coincided (with Christmas).

Q: Do you think there should be similar gatherings in the future?

A: I believe so. Public criticism against the government cannot be done in straightforward language. It should be conveyed with subtlety, indirectly, and (in ways) which can be accepted by the power holders.

Those people (in the gathering) really know how to convey their criticism in a form that does not offend and in a way that the power holders can accept. I believe Gus Dur has to hold more of such gatherings. (44)