Include Soeharto in dialog: Gus Dur

JAKARTA (JP): Moslem leader Abdurrahman Wahid made a fresh call on Wednesday for former president Soeharto to be included in a dialog for national reconciliation.

"Pak Harto, as well as President B.J. Habibie and Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto, should be included in the dialog if we want to achieve national reconciliation," he told reporters after receiving a delegation of several political parties at his residence in Ciganjur, South Jakarta.

"Pak Harto still has a strong influence on Indonesia's political affairs," he said. "Although he is no longer the president of Indonesia, his opinions are still followed by many people."

Asked to elaborate about his belief that Soeharto still wielded considerable political influence, he said numerous Indonesians were still loyal to the former president.

"I do not need to mention their names, but he still has lots of supporters, including those holding important government positions," said Abdurrahman, who is better known as Gus Dur.

In response to recent criticism over his "maneuver" meetings with Habibie and Wiranto, Abdurrahman expressed confidence of his mission to help develop national unity.

"I realize that my decision will not be popular with the students."

"But, I don't care and will never care about how the students respond," he said. "I have never cared about NU's response, or, above all, other people's response."

Abdurrahman met with Wiranto last Wednesday and Habibie last Saturday to discuss the planned national dialog for reconciliation.

Several newspapers reported that he also met with Soeharto for the same purpose on Sunday. Abdurrahman has dismissed the reports.

Amien Rais -- who, along with Abdurrahman, Megawati Soekarnoputri and Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, formed the Ciganjur group of reform leaders -- lamented the meetings because he believed Abdurrahman had abandoned the group.

Abdurrahman, however, said the meetings were called on his own initiative.

"I undertook all of them in my capacity as an individual, not as one of the signatories of the Ciganjur declaration," he said.

"Pak Amien should not be bothered with my actions as the other signatories, including Mbak Mega, have not said a word about them," he added. Megawati is the leader of the more popular faction of the splintered Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).

Abdurrahman said he was campaigning for national reconciliation out of concern for national unity which he believed was not at risk.

"There are still efforts by certain parties to turn Indonesia into a religious state," he said, but did not elaborate.

Abdurrahman dismissed speculation that personal ambition was behind his political maneuvering. He said physical disability hindered him from becoming president.

"I have problems with my sight," he said.

He, however, did not dismiss the possibility of joining the presidential race if surgery, planned for next year in Australia, restores his eyesight.

"Who knows if I'll be able to join the presidential race," he said. (imn)