Thousands welcome Gus Dur in E. Java
Thousands welcome Gus Dur in E. Java
SURABAYA (JP): Tens of thousands of people lined the streets
of East Java's Tapal Kuda area on Tuesday to welcome home former
president and influential Muslim cleric Abdurrahman Wahid.
The crowds, comprising people from all walks of life,
continued to pour into Situbondo's main square in the center of
the coastal city, some 160 kilometers east of Surabaya, on
Tuesday morning.
They came from the towns of Situbondo, Jember and Bondowoso,
riding on motorcycles, open trucks, buses and cars. Many also
walked to the square, where Abdurrahman gave a speech on
democracy and religion later on the day.
"We will continue to fight injustice and uphold the truth,"
Abdurrahman said before thousands of his followers.
This was Abdurrahman's first visit to his political heartland
since the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) removed him from
office two weeks ago in a special session held following
allegations of incompetence and corruption.
Abdurrahman was replaced by his former deputy and one-time
confidante, Megawati Soekarnoputri.
Abdurrahman's entourage was welcomed by thousands of people
who lined the streets in the Tapal Kuda towns from Surabaya to
Situbondo, with red-and-white flags being much in evidence.
The former president arrived at Surabaya's Juanda Airport
aboard a Garuda plane in the morning, accompanied by his daughter
Zannuba Arifah Chafsoh, or Yenny as she is familiarly known.
Unusually, Abdurrahman refused to talk to journalists.
East Java Governor Imam Utomo, and a number of NU officials
and non-governmental organization activists were seen among those
welcoming him.
Abdurrahman was visiting the town to attend a ceremony marking
the anniversary of the death of influential Nahdlatul Ulama (NU)
Muslim cleric KH As'ad Syamsul Arifin, a former head of the
Salafiyah Safiiyah Islamic Boarding School in Asembagus,
Situbondo regency.
Abdurrahman is an influential patron of NU, the country's
largest Muslim organization which he led for 15 consecutive years
before being elected as the country's fourth president at an MPR
general session in October 1999.
He was ousted by the same legislators who pushed him to accept
the presidency at an MPR special session on July 23 this year.
"Gus Dur is our leader," chanted the supporters crowding the
streets.
"We still consider Gus Dur as the constitutional president.
But, now he is the president of the people because of the
different political reality," East Java NU official Ramadhan
Sukardi said.
Security around the area was tight with military and police
personnel, along with NU security units, guarding the venue.
(nur)