Gus Dur's surprising moves

Gus Dur's surprising moves

From Sinar Pagi

Recently, the chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) organization, Abdurrahman Wahid (popularly known as Gus Dur), made some intriguing moves by holding a dialog with Gen. Wiranto, President Habibie, even with former president Soeharto. His moves seem to be of great significance, well calculated, and more importantly they did not harm him and NU.

The City Forum (Forkot) valued Gus Dur's meeting with Soeharto as a wise act. But National Mandate Party Chairman Amien Rais preferred not to comment on it. In fact, Gus Dur has often taken steps that have disappointed or even betrayed his fellow leaders of society. But he has always been able to get away with it, although sometimes narrowly.

I believe that Gus Dur still receives important information from Benny Moerdani, former Armed Forces commander, and from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). His visit to the CSIS in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, to see Benny Moerdani and Harry Tjan Silalahi before meeting Soeharto made the situation obvious. That was clearly not a casual meeting, neither was it a courtesy call.

This and other examples show Gus Dur to be a leader with vision, and to be capable of making a rational and accurate analysis.

GUSTAM EFFENDI

Bandung, West Java