NU and PDI-P rally to defend Abdurrahman

JAKARTA (JP): A mass prayer for a peaceful session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) at Senayan Stadium in Central Jakarta turned into a show of force on Saturday in support of President Abdurrahman Wahid and Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

The event, where some 50,000 supporters of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) from Jakarta and its neighboring towns were present, was held just a week before Abdurrahman faces his greatest test at the Assembly's General Session, which will take place from Aug. 7 through Aug. 18.

After surviving the interpellation motion of the House of Representatives earlier this month, Abdurrahman is expected to take on the strongest attack on him ever during the upcoming MPR convention, which may lead to a loss of confidence by the 700 lawmakers, who elected him in October last year.

But Abdurrahman convincingly defused the impending threat, saying he was strong enough to survive another confidence test.

"Everybody can see our strength, although they only come from one region, namely Greater Jakarta," Abdurrahman said in his speech.

Claiming to have 40 million supporters, NU, the country's largest Muslim organization, is strongly associated with Abdurrahman, or Gus Dur as the former NU chairman is called. PDI Perjuangan, which topped the polls in last year's election, is chaired by Megawati.

Megawati failed to turn up due to a party commitment in Bogor, West Java. Representing her was her deputy Roy B. Janis.

NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi, House Speaker Akbar Tandjung, several Cabinet ministers and Indonesian Military Commander Adm. Widodo A.S. were also on hand.

When asked why Assembly Speaker Amien Rais did not appear, Hasyim said all the guests came on their own initiative.

In his speech, Abdurrahman said the gathering was evidence of people's concern over what he called "the strange attitude" of several of the political elite in the run-up to the MPR session.

"All the people are deeply concerned about several displays of strange behavior recently. We hope that will end right here so we can enter the annual MPR session peacefully," Abdurrahman said.

He said NU and PDI Perjuangan were so influential in the country that Muslim clerics and ordinary people attended the mass prayer.

The President also stressed the harmony between the two organizations due to their identical vision of putting the national interest above all else, including religious interest.

"NU adopts Pancasila as its sole principle, because NU thinks of the country's sake instead of its own. The fact that NU people and the Banteng (bull, the symbol of PDI Perjuangan) mingle here today reflects their concern for national interest," he said.

He said Indonesia could cope with the disintegration threat if everybody had the will to maintain unity.

"I am fully convinced that in the very near future we can prove the unity of our nation, and that the current unrest in Aceh, Maluku, North Maluku and Irian Jaya will end," he said.

Roy B. Janis said the gathering was proof of the brotherhood between the two big organizations and the solid relationship between Abdurrahman and Megawati.

"Ibu Mega gives her warm regards to everybody here and her soul will always be with the President, wherever he goes. NU and Banteng supporters are brothers and not separated by anyone," Roy said in his speech.

He further said the MPR legislators who convene next week represent the interests of 210 million Indonesians, not their interests or that of a small group within the House.

"They have to hear the wishes of the 210 million people. All NU and Banteng supporters want the annual session to be just a routine session so Abdurrahman Wahid ends his term in 2004," Roy said amid the crowd's cheers.

After the prayer, Hasyim Muzadi announced there was a clear indication of efforts to topple Abdurrahman. But he insisted the gathering was not meant to threaten anybody or any group.

"This is just a religious effort to bring peace to the country and to remind everybody of the country's unity," he said.

Hasyim said a greater interreligious gathering would be held on Aug. 6 in the capital.

Police, who estimated the crowd at some 70,000, said another 2,500 security officers from PDI Perjuangan and NU party were present at the stadium to keep order.(dja)