Moslem youths rally to support Gus Dur

Moslem youths rally to support Gus Dur

BOYOLALI, Central Java (JP): Thousands of young Moslems staged
a rally and a march across town yesterday to show support for the
leadership of Abdurrahman Wahid in the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).

The rally was organized by the Central Java chapter of Pemuda
Ansor, an NU youth wing group, amidst escalating tension between
Gus Dur, as Abdurrahman is affectionately known, and his critics
within NU.

Earlier reports suggested that the National Police have
resumed investigation of allegations of defamation by Gus Dur
against Abu Hasan, his rival who failed to unseat him at NU's
congress last January. Abu Hasan has also been fiercely lobbying
among NU elders to have Gus Dur removed.

The protesters yesterday ended their march with a pledge to
defend Gus Dur from any attempt to replace him by
unconstitutional means.

Niam Sukri, the chairman of Pemuda Ansor in Central Java, told
The Jakarta Post that it was not the intention of the marchers to
turn Gus Dur into a cult figure. "The support we're showing is
simply legitimate. After all, Gus dur is the legally and
constitutionally elected NU chairman," he said.

Niam said the rally was staged after lengthy consideration,
taking many factors into consideration, not something that was
held in a hasty manner, he said.

Concerned

Gus Dur himself on Wednesday said that he was not particularly
concerned about Abu Hasan's plan to take him to court.

"I have nothing to do with him. Whether he is filing a
complaint or not, that is up to him," he said in Semarang while
attending a discussion on Moslem art and culture at the City
hall.

The National Police have reportedly been questioning a number
of senior NU leaders, including Ilyas Ruchiyat, Salal Mafud,
Hasyim Muzadi and Tengku Azis, in connection with Abu Hasan's
complaint. Abu Hassan has also accused Gus Dur of rigging the
vote at the NU congress in January, and depriving him of the seat
as a consequence.

Gus Dur said he had not been summoned by the police for
questioning so far, although he was prepared to give a statement
if he was asked. "What is clear is that I'm not making any
special preparations for this," he added.

Gus Dur also denied that there has been a rift between him and
Yusuf Hasyim, his uncle and a respected NU figure. "There's not
going to be a reconciliation because we never fought in the first
place," he said, adding that NU has learned to respect
differences of opinions.

Earlier reports suggested that Yusuf has been lobbying to have
Gus Dur removed because he was seen as a controversial figure not
acceptable to the government. (har/emb)