Gus Dur's power base calm despite second censure

Gus Dur's power base calm despite second censure

SURABAYA (JP): Surabaya and several other areas in President
Abdurrahman Wahid's political stronghold of East Java and base of
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), remained calm on Monday.

In the province' capital, the majority of residents preferred
to stay home following on television the proceedings of the House
of Representatives' Plenary Session that issued the second
memorandum to censure the President.

Most shops and offices remained open, but traffic was quiet
even in areas normally congested during rush hours.

However, the East Java Police were on level II alert and
readied 3,700 troops comprising members from the Police, Army,
Marines and the Air Force, East Java Police chief Sr. Comr.
Suharto said.

"Basically we want to safeguard the decision made by the House
and its possible impact here," Suharto added.

The situation also remained peaceful in the Ketapang Port in
Banyuwangi regency as three companies of joint police and
military units along with dozens of civilian guards from the
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU)'s Pagar Nusa guarded the port compound.

Three months ago, the port was occupied by the President's
supporters, shortly after the issuance of the first censure. They
were there for few days, paralyzing ferry services from East Java
to Bali island.

Banyuwangi Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Anton Setiadi said on
Monday that a navy ship with 100 marines on board had docked near
the port.

A sharp drop in the number of passengers passing through the
port connecting East Java and Bali through the Bali straits was
evident on Monday. This scene was repeated in Gilimanuk on the
Bali side.

The Ketapang - Gilimanuk transportation office head, Taufik
Handriawan, said that Ketapang Port had experienced a 40 percent
drop in passengers on Monday.

"On a normal day there are some 1,400 vehicles crossing the
straits but today less than 900 vehicles were recorded," Taufik
said, adding that 16 ferries were available at the port on
Monday.

Police had also secured the main electricity post, serving the
network of Java and Bali, on Jl. Raden Wijaya in Banyuwangi.

Offices of other Muslim organization, Muhammadiyah located
throughout the province were also guarded by police personnel.

Setiadi said that a total of 1,600 men in a joint military and
police force had been deployed in Banyuwangi regency, known as
one of the NU's strongholds.

He said that as of 5 p.m. local time the situation in
Banyuwangi was calm and there were no reports of mass actions or
unrest.

The officer also dismissed reports that unrest had broken out
in the East Java cities of Probolinggo, Situbondo and Pasuruan.

"I have contacted my colleagues in those three towns and the
situation there is reportedly calm," he said.

East Java is home to millions of President Abdurrahman Wahid's
die-hard followers. Abdurrahman once led the NU for 15
consecutive years before he was elected the country's president
in an overwhelming vote by the People's Consultative Assembly
(MPR) in October, 1999.

Many feared there would be a backlash once the House issued a
second memorandum of censure of Abdurrahman on Monday.

Meanwhile, Bali's Gilimanuk port was nearly deserted on Monday
as there were almost no passengers or vehicles passing through
the usually busy and crowded port to cross the Bali Straits to
East Java and vice versa, Antara said.

Gilimanuk port, which connects Bali with East Java's Ketapang
Port was empty even though a total of 14 ferries were ready to
transport passengers and vehicles.

Passengers and port officials were seen closely monitoring
broadcasts of the House plenary session convened to consider
issuing a second memorandum of censure against President Gus
Dur.

As of 2 p.m. local time, only one ship had departed Gilimanuk
for Ketapang port whereas usually packed ferries depart every
half an hour.

According to a port official, this was the first time that
port activities had nearly ground to a halt.

Port officials, however, also said they were ready to
transport security personnel just in case more troop deployments
were needed to prevent unrest.

Rumors circulating at the port, however, said that a mass
action would break out in the area around the port if the House
issued a second censure against the President.

Meanwhile in Makassar, the capital city of South Sulawesi,
around 100 students from various universities, grouped under the
Grey Ribbon Consortium and the Urip Sumohardjo University
Students Committee rallied outside the provincial council
building on Monday.

The students demanded Abdurrahman resign.

They rejected the invitation of local councillors for a dialog
and instead held orations.

"We don't want to dialog with the councillors, what is
important for us is what concrete steps the local council will
make to oust Gus Dur," one student said.

They dispersed peacefully after finishing their speeches and
returned to their respective campuses. (27/nur/emf/zen/edt)