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)