Muslim leaders question use of 'bughot'

Muslim leaders question use of 'bughot'

JAKARTA (JP): Muslim leaders contended on Tuesday that the use
of the term bughot, or rebellion in Islamic law, for efforts to
unseat President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid is inappropriate.

Speaking to The Jakarta Post on Tuesday, Indonesia's ulemas
council chief Amidhan and professor of Islamic politics at the
State Islamic Institute (IAIN) Din Syamsuddin said that bughot
was not a correct word for such a move or action.

"In Islam bughot is rebellion which relates to the holy war of
jihad. But it only applies to atheists, who are against Islam, or
for rebellious Muslims," Amidhan said in a telephone interview.

He asserted that if the term was used for action to topple the
President then it would be unclear whom the holy war would be
conducted against and it would not comply with the jihad
resolution.

"We should not get trapped in using Islamic teaching for
political interest and legitimation of the use of anarchic action
to solve political problems," he further added.

However, Amidhan expressed confidence that Abdurrahman, as a
democratic Muslim leader, would never approve the idea as he was
always against the use of religion or any religious symbol for
political purposes.

The law-making body of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) decided to discuss
on Wednesday if it is lawful to slay those who attempt to topple
Abdurrahman as their action could be considered bughot. The
meeting is scheduled to take place in Sukabumi, 110 kilometers
south of here.

The discussion is meant to produce a decision which could be
used by the grassroots of NU to curb mounting protests against
Abdurrahman in Jakarta and other areas of the country.

Abdurrahman had chaired NU, the largest Islamic organization,
for 15 years before being elected President in 1999.

Islamic law allows the killing of those involved in bughot.

Din Syamsuddin, who is also the deputy chairman of
Muhammadiyah, said that the definition of the term bughot was
debatable.

Many Islamic leaders say that the credibility of the
government should be taken into account, he said.

"If the head of government violates Islamic teachings or laws
it is our job to make a correction. So what we are doing now is
trying to control the President," Din said.

Die-hard

Meanwhile, at least 30,000 people in Surabaya have enrolled
themselves as die-hard supporters of President Abdurrahman. They
vowed to fight to the end for the President.

Wiro Sugiman, enrollment coordinator, told a media conference
at the National Awakening Party (PKB) office on Tuesday that the
office located on Jl. Kapuas 58 also functioned as the "Truth
Defenders Command Post" or the registration office for
Abdurrahman's die-hard supporters.

"They just come here to fill in forms and sign statements on
their willingness to die for Gus Dur," he said.

He said as many as 20,000 forms have been circulated across
all regencies in East Java, which is PKB stronghold, under the
coordination of local PKB branch offices.

Wiro did not say when he would stop circulating the forms, but
said that about 30,000 supporters were ready to fill in and sign
the forms.

"They are from Situbondo, Pasuruan, Banyuwangi, Surabaya,
Jombang and other areas. Some of them are women and female
students."

"They will be commanded by party leaders. And it is very
possible for them to move to Jakarta some time in the near
future."

He said that the departure of the fanatical defenders of Gus
Dur to Jakarta would be well organized, "we have learnt from the
past that Gus Dur supporters sometimes leave for Jakarta without
prior preparation."

In a related development, East Java PKB secretary Fuad Anwar
said the enrollment of Gus Dur's die-hard supporters had nothing
to do with the Jihad resolution planned by NU ulemas.

He denied accusations that efforts made by the party would
only bring about chaos and anarchy. "We just want to know how
much the public support Gus Dur."

Back in Jakarta, National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Didi
Widayadi said that a shoot-on-site order would be given to
officers to stop whoever from creating social unrest.

The police will also prevent any member of the ready-to-die
groups from entering the capital to demonstrate their support for
the President in an illegal manner.

"Public security is our top priority," Didi told reporters at
his office on Tuesday.

He said that the "ready-to-die jihad groups" should be
disbanded.

"I urge members of the political elite to dissolve such
groups, and not to recruit people to form them."

"The police will not hesitate to use force in emergency
situations," Didi warned. (dja/nur/sur/ylt)