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)