NU wants a more accountable ABRI

NU wants a more accountable ABRI

JAKARTA (JP): Nadhlatul Ulama (NU), the country's largest
Moslem organization, has avowed its support of the Armed Forces
(ABRI), but urged it to be more accountable for the safety of the
nation.

Speaking before a gathering of more than 5,000 people in the
eastern Senayan parking lot in Central Jakarta, NU Chairman
Abdurrahman Wahid reminded ABRI that it must remain the guardian
of the country.

He said it should not be merely a political tool to maintain
the status quo or interest of a particular group.

"The nation's unity and cohesion must not be sacrificed for a
group's interests," said Abdurrahman, who is popularly known as
Gus Dur.

"Show to the people that ABRI is the guardian of the nation,
not supporter of a group," he said at the gathering organized by
GMNU, the organization's youth wing.

The turnout was small compared to the Sept. 30 gathering at
the Istiqlal Grand Mosque, Central Jakarta, which was organized
by the Indonesian Council of Ulemas. More than 10,000 attendees
were estimated at that event, organized to warn against the
reemergence of banned communist elements and show support for
President B.J. Habibie's government.

Sunday's gathering asserted GMNU's "commitment to stick to the
form of the state as a unitary state based on state ideology
Pancasila and 1945 Constitution".

Minister of Defense/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto also
spoke, and several senior ABRI officials and illustrious public
figures were also present.

Other attendees included Army Chief of Staff Gen. Subagyo HS,
Armed Forces Chief of Sociopolitical Affairs Lt. Gen. Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono, National Police chief Lt. Gen. Roesmanhadi,
National Resilience Institute Governor Lt. Gen. Agum Gumelar,
Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen Djadja Suparman and Jakarta
Police chief Maj.Gen Nugroho Djayusman.

Retired generals on hand were former Jakarta governor Lt. Gen.
(ret) Ali Sadikin and former defense minister Gen. (ret) Edi
Sudrajat.

Also present was Catholic priest Ign. Sandyawan Sumardi of
Volunteers for Humanity and several other religious figures,
including representatives of the Indonesian Committee of World
Moslem Solidarity (KISDI).

Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung and Megawati
Soekarnoputri were reportedly among invitees who did not attend.

Murders

Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs HR Agung Laksono,
businessman Arifin Panigoro and former minister Sarwono
Kusumaatmadja also attended.

In his speech, Abdurrahman also highlighted the grisly murders
of more than 100 alleged "black magic practitioners" and Moslem
preachers in the East Java regency of Banyuwangi, a predominantly
NU region.

He alleged that many actions, including the killings in
Banyuwangi, were attempts to disturb the relationship between NU
and ABRI.

Abdurrahman said NU trusted the Armed Forces and the local
government administration would settle the problem.

NU viewed the handling of the murders as a "simple" case.
"It's because we live in a country where there are troops, so
we'll just hand over the matter to ABRI to secure all the regions
in East Java. We believe ABRI could safeguard them.

"It (the killings) is the responsibility of ABRI and the local
administration (to stop it)."

Abdurrahman also emphasized what the NU's younger generation's
called the "criminal political means" used as political maneuvers
to attain particular political ends.

In its statement distributed at the gathering, GMNU said such
inhumane means could eventually lead to the loss of social
solidarity and stir social unrest.

GMNU Chairman Muhammad Iqbal Assegaf, who read out the
statement, called on people to eradicate approaches to expressing
opinions which could rip asunder national unity.

Citing last Friday's murder of a young counselor from
Volunteers for Humanity, Abdurrahman said it was "unacceptable".

"Why does one have to be murdered just because one wanted to
testify? We reject such inhumane means. We are a civilized
nation."

Police have said the murder of Martadinata, 18, was purely
criminal in nature. She reportedly was set to accompany a rape
victim from the May riots to testify in the United States.

Wiranto in his address urged members of society to join hands
to restore the country from its dire condition and also to
refresh commitments to correct past mistakes.

He warned against the continuing defamation of the government,
"the force of will" and growing violence that could run counter
to reform efforts if left unchecked.

"Will we let this be? Is this our choice? Will we let a
certain group sink our whole big ship and bring down all of us?
The answer is no," he said without specifying the group. His
comment met with applause. (aan)