Supporters of Gus Dur asked to leave city

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso met the leader of President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid's die-hard supporters on Friday, and asked them to leave the city after taking part in a mass prayer on Sunday.

"I said they could take part in the prayer, but I asked them to go home afterward. We agreed on it," Sutiyoso said after meeting with Nuril Arifin at City Hall.

The governor said if the President's supporters were involved in any activities that could spark chaos after the prayer, they would be answerable to the security authorities.

Nuril, who is also the leader of an Islamic boarding school in Semarang, Central Java, promised that he and his so-called Pasukan Berani Mati (Dare to Death Soldiers/PBM) would return to their hometowns after the mass prayer.

"We agreed to leave the city after the prayer. Gus Dur also asked us to return home," the Muslim preacher, who has led several rallies at the House of Representatives, said.

He questioned reports that the presence of his "soldiers" in the city had frightened residents, claiming the Betawi natives had welcomed them.

He asserted that many of his men were being put up by Betawi people, saying the native Jakartans were protecting the President's supporters from provocateurs.

"There are now many groups claiming to be PBM, but I don't know them. We don't want to be used as a tool by these groups to create chaos here," Nuril remarked.

The country's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), which was once chaired by Gus Dur, will hold a mass prayer in the eastern parking lot of the Bung Karno Sports Stadium in Senayan, Central Jakarta.

Besides the PBM members, hundreds of thousands of NU members from East Java, Central Java, West Java and Lampung are expected to attend the prayer.

The prayer will take place one day before the House's plenary session, which is widely expected to issue a second memorandum of censure against the President. The issuance of a second censure would bring the President one step closer to impeachment.

Sutiyoso promised on Friday his officials would remain on the alert and monitor spots where both supporters and critics of the President were staying.

"I ordered officials to stay alert around the clock. We don't want chaos here," he said.

The governor said on Thursday some 44 locations in the city's five mayoralties were being used as "headquarters" by both supporters and critics of Gus Dur.

According to the city administration, some 280 supporters of the President checked into the Hotel Djody on Jl. Jaksa, Central Jakarta -- an area popular with backpackers -- on Friday morning.

At least 150 supporters arrived on Friday at the NU's main office on Jl. Agus Salim, Central Jakarta, and another 320 supporters checked in at the Hotel Paragon in Menteng, also in Central Jakarta.

And another 100 supporters of the President checked into the Hotel Sari Pan Pasifik on Jl. MH. Thamrin, Central Jakarta, on Friday.

Also on Friday, at least 80 Gus Dur supporters arrived at the Gambir railway station. Thousands of others from Central Java and East Java are expected to arrive at the Senen railway station in Central Jakarta on Saturday. (jun)