Misunderstanding Gus Dur

Misunderstanding Gus Dur

News reports published in some newspapers in recent days have
drawn the conclusion that President Abdurrahman Wahid said he
would retire in September this year, based on an interview with
the President published in the Australian Financial Review on
April 28, 2000.

This is not correct. In the interview he said that before he
became president he had a plan to retire at 60 years of age. He
also said that he wished his presidency to finish soon, but that
he would not step aside until he had achieved his goals.

President Abdurrahman Wahid did not say that he would retire
in September 2000.

His words were: "You know, my idea was to live at peace after
60 years of life. To write a book, to lead a pesantren (Islamic
boarding school), and then I was catapulted into the presidency.
I hope that it can be over soon.

"If possible, I would like to have it as short as possible,
but if necessary I will have to go to see the completion of the
term. That's what I mean by the ideology of human rights, of the
rule of law; it's more important to me than anything else. It's
my life".

I hope this clarifies any confusion which has arisen.

TIM DODD

Indonesia Correspondent

Australian Financial Review