Some say Gus Dur still the president

PADANG, West Sumatra: Supporters of former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid here have never accepted the constitutional process that cost him his top executive post last year.

In his visit to the West Sumatra capital to speak in a discussion on Tuesday, Gus Dur found members of the National Awakening Party (PKB) whom he met still recognized him as the president.

It was the deputy chairman of PKB's provincial chapter here, M. Zen, who insisted that Gus Dur still remained in power.

"I don't agree with event organizers who always refer to Gus Dur as the former president. We should simply call him 'Mister President'," Zen said to the cheers of the audience.

Zen suggested that Indonesian people adopt the custom in the United States, where former presidents retained their old tag.

After the protest, the event announcer refrained from using the term "former president" every time he referred to Gus Dur until the discussion was over. -- Antara