Leaders call for dialog among elite

JAKARTA (JP): The leader of Indonesia's largest Moslem group, alarmed by the increasing violence across the country, on Sunday again called for more effective political dialogs between Indonesia's formal and informal leaders.

"We need a wise leader to lead the nation, as the Habibie administration is losing control while our nation is now on the brink of a social revolution," warned Abdurrahman Wahid, popularly known as Gus Dur, Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama organization.

Gus Dur said that to find ways to resolve the urgent national problems, he would go to meet with President B.J. Habibie and Armed Forces Chief Gen. Wiranto and other public figures if they did not want to come to his residence.

"Our situation is critical now. Informal and formal leaders therefore should sit down together to discuss the problems and work out effective ways of resolving the civil strife," the Moslem leader said.

Gus Dur spoke to reporters after a closed-doors meeting at his residence in Ciganjur, South Jakarta, with dozens of public figures, including former finance minister Mar'ie Muhammad, Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, K. Sindhunata, Mrs. Siti Hartati Murdaya of the Buddhist community and Moslem intellectuals Emha Ainun Nadjib, popularly known as Cak Nun, and AM Fatwa.

The meeting, organized by the Indonesian Editors Forum, was also attended by retired generals Theo Sjafei and Sjamsir Siregar, representatives of the Catholic and Protestant communities and many university pressure groups.

"Because the present government has no political sense and is lacking the leadership and losing control of the situation, the whole political elite, either inside or outside the government, should hold meaningful dialogs to stop the conflicts. Otherwise, we may not be able to make it to the upcoming general election (June 7)," Gus Dur cautioned.

He also criticized those who were cynical about the calls for a national dialog or national reconciliation.

"I cannot understand why the importance of national reconciliation is so belittled. The chairman of the Supreme Advisory Council has retorted that a national dialog is not necessary. If so, then the alternative is a frightening social revolution where the whole nation would be a victim."

He defined a social revolution as a situation where the people revolt against everything, resulting in a total chaos with nobody in control.

At the gathering, Cak Nun asserted that the nation urgently needs a wise leader with the moral, spiritual and cultural authority to unite the nation's ruling elite.

"I think only Gus Dur meets all these qualities. He should therefore meet with Habibie, Gen. Wiranto and other public figures," Cak Nun said.

According to Gus Dur, the general election is the best way to settle the nation's conflicts once and for all.

"The problem now is that our nation is not really ready for an election, unless the current conflicts are resolved."

He cited three main reasons for the current conflicts which have triggered a seemingly endless cycle of violence.

"First, there has been an increasing ideologization of our political life, sometimes using religious sentiments for a political objective. Secondly, the hardening opposition from those who are against such an excessive ideologization. Thirdly, the reduction in the role of the Armed Forces which is unintentionally curtailing their ability to handle violence at a time when numerous potential conflicts are about to explode."

Struggle

Also on Sunday, the chairwoman of one faction of the splintered Indonesian Democratic Party, Megawati Soekarnoputri, and Moslem intellectual Nurcholish Madjid, Rector of the University of Paramadina Mulya, urged people to avoid violence.

"We must continue our struggle without violence," Megawati was quoted by Antara as telling thousands of cheering, flag-waving members of her party at a Moslem prayer gathering in the parking lot of Senayan stadium.

She said that any form of threats, looting, violence or cruelty are disgraceful acts that are against the fundamental principles of all religions.

Separately, Nurcholish told a gathering of Moslem students in Jakarta that it can never be too late to hold national dialogs.

"We need intensive, meaningful political communication right now, both at the central government and provincial administration levels," Nurcholish was quoted by Antara as saying.

He blamed the spate of violence in recent months on the lack of political communication among the political elite. (vin)