NU Jakarta supports Gus Dur until 2004

NU Jakarta supports Gus Dur until 2004

JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta chapter of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU)
pledged on Saturday to support President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur"
Wahid amid a slew of resignation calls from various quarters.

In a ceremony marking the 74th anniversary of the country's
largest Muslim organization, the chapter's executives, on behalf
of NU and the indigenous Betawi community in Jakarta, stated that
they were ready to defend Gus Dur until their last drop of blood.

"In the wake of denunciations and criticism calling for the
President's resignation, which is unconstitutional, NU Jakarta
and the Betawi people will support the President until his term
ends," Zaenal Arifin read out the chapter's statement in Tebet,
South Jakarta.

The chapter became the first in the NU family to declare its
support for Abdurrahman, who was the organization's chairman for
15 years before being elected president last year.

Protests against the way Abdurrahman runs the government has
grown into demands that he steps down. With the People's
Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais joining the opposition,
fears have loomed that the bickering could spark a massive
conflict between supporters of NU and Muhammadiyah, the second
largest Muslim oganization once chaired by Amien.

Minister of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises
Development Zarkasih Noor, who was among the 1,500 NU suporters
attending Saturday's celebration, lashed out at critics who
demanded Abdurrahman step down for failing to cope with the
complicated problems facing the nation.

"It's naive to ask Gus Dur to step down because he was unable
to settle the problems," Zarkasih said.

Zarkasih added that whoever had been elected the country's
president would have been unable to settle the country's
challenges in a year.

He called on NU supporters not to react angrily or be provoked
by demands for the President to resign.

He also suggested that parties wishing to see Gus Dur resign,
submit their aspirations to the House of Representatives.

"Just send the demand to the House. It should be conducted
constitutionally," Zarkasih, who is also deputy chairman of the
United Development Party, said.

Meanwhile, Muhammadiyah deputy chairman Rosyad Soleh warned
that certain parties were trying to pit the country's biggest
Muslim organizations against each other.

"If a conflict occurs, Indonesian Muslims would be in danger
as the two organizations are large," Rosyad said in the opening
ceremony of Muhammadiyah's Jambi chapter meeting.

Commenting on Amien's call, Rosyad said that the MPR Speaker
should no longer be viewed as having any relation with the
organization.

"Amien should not be linked to Muhammadiyah," Rosyad was
quoted by Antara as saying on Saturday.

Amien, who also chairs the National Mandate Party (PAN), has
repeatedly asked the President to resign. His statements have
sparked anger among supporters of Abdurrahman, especially in East
Java.

Meanwhile social observer Franz Magnis Suseno said demands for
Abdurrahman to step down showed a distinct lack of understanding
about the democratic culture prevailing in the society.

"A democratic country should not be focusing on how to dismiss
the incumbent president but more on the policies," Franz said.

"Demanding the President resign will not solve the problem",
Franz said.

Franz also said the People's Consultative Assembly's threat to
impeach the President was excessive it as he believes the 1945
Constitution states that a president is installed to carry out a
five-year mandate.

"There should be very strong (constitutional) reasons to hold
a special session, such as if Gus Dur violates the constitution
or deviates from the State Policy Guidelines".

Franz further warned that ousting Gus Dur and Vice Megawati
Soekarnoputri before the end of their tenure would be a
devastating turn for the development of democracy in Indonesia.

"That is why the people should avoid it," Franz said.(02/jun)