NU supporters advised to trust government
DEMAK, Central Java (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid renewed on Saturday his request to Nahdladul Ulama (NU) supporters to trust the government and refrain from storming the capital to demand the government deal with the current crisis.
In his keynote address to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Futuhiyyah Islamic boarding school in Mranggen, Demak, some 35 kilometers east of Semarang, the President said that if NU supporters were really aware of the national situation, they would leave all the problems to the government.
Thousands of NU supporters were attending the ceremony held in the boarding school yard.
House deputy speaker Muhaimin Iskandar, State Minister of Forestry Marzuki Usman and Governor of Central Java Mardiyanto were also at hand.
The President planted a teak tree to mark a national regreening campaign.
NU supporters are worried that the President will be unseated in a dishonorable manner following the House of Representatives (DPR) recommendation for MPR to hold a special session.
However Abdurrahman, known by his nickname "Gus Dur", played down the situation. "It is a trivial thing," he said. "The taller a tree the stronger the wind it will face."
"There is no point in NU ulemas being frustrated and for them to go to Jakarta. As Muslims, we must love peace. We are all brothers. Therefore, any problems arising among us must be dealt with in a peaceful and brotherly manner, instead of using violence," he said.
He asked NU supporters to adopt the attitude and principles of the first president, Sukarno, who preferred non-violence (in dealing with all problems).
"We should also look to Mahatma Gandhi who hated violence. We must be firm (in fighting for something), but we must not be violent. There is a clear distinction between being firm and being violent."
"All of us have our own responsibility in maintaining order, creating peace and avoiding violence. Storming Jakarta will create more problems. NU members and supporters must understand this," he said.
NU supporters, especially those from East Java, have been notorious for their high temper and determination in expressing their support for President Abdurrahman, once the chairman of NU, by storming the capital city in huge mass rallies.
Recent violence in several towns across East Java, including Pasuruan, have allegedly been conducted by NU supporters who have protested the People's Consultative Assembly's (MPR) plan to open the special session to impeach the President.
Hours before, the President was in Semarang to lay a cornerstone of a new office of the provincial chapter of the National Awakening Party (PKB).
Gus Dur, who is one of the party's founding fathers, donated Rp 1 billion to the project. (har/sur)