More people pledge lives for Gus Dur

More people pledge lives for Gus Dur

SURABAYA (JP): Pledges to defend President Abdurrahman Wahid
to the death continued to pour in here on Thursday, with claims
that over 20,000 people were ready to die for the President in a
holy war.

Despite public criticism and Abdurrahman's own criticism of
talk of a holy war, Wiro Sugiman, the coordinator of the Truth
Defenders Front, said at the National Awakening Party (PKB)
office here his group would continue to register people willing
to die for the President.

"Thus far there has been no order from Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) or
PKB to stop our activities," Wiro said. "As for the criticism,
well that is their right."

He claimed pledges of support for the President continued to
flow in, with most of the 20,000 pledges coming from East Java.
He also said many people had telephoned from Central Java and
Lampung.

"But unfortunately we could not accommodate them because they
have to appear in person to sign their names on the form," he
said.

The political fighting raging around the President in Jakarta
has seeped through to the grassroots level, where support for the
President is often colored with strong religious overtones.

The NU's law-making body discussed on Wednesday whether
efforts to topple Abdurrahman could be considered bughot, or
rebellion, thus allowing supporters of the President to take
extreme measures to counter these efforts. The results of the
discussion were not disclosed.

Abdurrahman chaired NU for 15 years before being elected
president.

Wiro said on Thursday he was "awaiting instructions from PKB
or NU" before taking further steps.

"If necessary, we are ready to leave at any time for Jakarta
to defend Gus Dur's leadership until the end of his term in
2004," he said, referring to the President by his nickname.

Separately, M. Rofik, the head of the East Java branch of
Ansor, the youth wing of NU, questioned the criticism of shows of
support for Abdurrahman.

Rofik, who is also a provincial councillor, alleged there was
a prejudice against NU. He said NU members were condemned for
expressing their support for Abdurrahman, but there was only
silence when other groups used religious symbols for their own
purposes.

"It is not fair. What our friends our doing is merely filling
out forms and signing them. It is simply a sign of their
commitment to the Constitution and the legitimate president," he
said. "It is nothing more than that. We will not engage in
violence."

Solution

In Purwokerto, PKB deputy secretary-general Chotibul Umam said
the actions of the President's political opponents could not be
considered bughot, and to answer these actions with a holy war
would be out of all proportion.

"What has been taking place in the House of Representatives is
part of the democratic process. It belongs in the political
domain; we cannot mix politics with religion," Chatibul told The
Jakarta Post.

In Jakarta, the chairman of the Association of Indonesian
Muslim Intellectuals (ICMI), Adi Sasono, urged the People's
Consultative Assembly, the state's highest legislative body, to
take the initiative in finding a resolution to the dispute
between the House and the President.

"Declaring bughot is not a solution. In a democratic country,
criticism is usual," Adi said during a media conference that was
also attended by Solahuddin Wahid, Abdurrahman's brother and the
NU deputy chairman.

ICMI deputy chairman Jimmly Assidiqie decried the use of
religion for political interests.

"It is acceptable to discuss bughot as part of an intellectual
discourse. But we must denounce such discussions if they are
being used to legitimize the killing of those who want to unseat
the President.

"NU continues claiming our country does not follow Islamic law
because of the country's pluralism. But then NU proposes
recognizing bughot, which is only recognized in Islamic states
that follow Islamic law," he said.

House Deputy Speaker Muhaimin Iskandar suggested the
controversy was the work of elements from former president
Soeharto's New Order regime, who were attempting to pit proreform
groups against each other.

"There are still supporters of the (New Order) regime around
(Assembly Speaker) Amien Rais, the President and (Vice President)
Megawati, and they have a lot of money," he remarked.

Muhaimin also slammed talks between Amien and Crescent Star
Party (PBB) chairman Yusril Ihza Mahendra about possible
successors to Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri if she
replaces Abdurrahman.

"We (the National Awakening Party) know these two people have
long harbored presidential and vice presidential ambitions," he
said. (02/45/nur/dja/rms)