ID :
97696
Thu, 12/31/2009 - 23:05
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/97696
The shortlink copeid
GUS DUR`S REPUTATION NEEDS REHABILITATING: PRESIDENTIAL STAFF
Jakarta, Dec 31 (ANTARA) - Presidential special staff member Andi Arif said rehabilitating former president Abdurrahman Wahid's (Gus Dur) reputation was more important than conferring a hero's title on him.
"To me the most urgent thing is not that (awarding him a hero's title) but declaring that Gus Dur's fall from power was not because of a certain case. It is important to straighten out the history," the former student activist said here on Thursday in connection with Gus Dur's death due to illness on Wednesday.
Andi said a week before Gus Dur was unseated by the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) on July 24, 2001 he and several other student activists such as Faisol Reza, Haris Moti and others met with Gus Dur at a house on Jalan Irian in Menteng, Central Jakarta.
At the time Gus Dur asked them not to worry about his presidency because several key members in the armed forces (TNI) and the police supported him.
"I argued then by saying that now is the civilian era so TNI and the police would follow what the parliament would say. Gus Dur however told us to remain calm saying the parliament would be overcome because a lot of its members still supported me," he said.
He said Gus Dur looked very confident at the time that none would betray him.
"We then just believed in what he said although in our heart we had different calculations. What we had worried about was later proven true. Gus Dur was impeached by the parliament," he said.
He said he felt a big loss because of the death of the great figure of democracy in Indonesia.
He said he was grateful he could accompany him at his last moments and see his face who was rather pale while being taken from the second to the fifth floor where he was to be treated.
"I came along with Velix Wanggai (the presient's special staff)and could not help crying seeing the anti-feodialism and anti-bureaucratism figure who was unseated while he was just starting his fight," he said.
Gus Dur held the post of the fourth president of Indonesia from October 20, 1999 to July 24, 2001. ***
"To me the most urgent thing is not that (awarding him a hero's title) but declaring that Gus Dur's fall from power was not because of a certain case. It is important to straighten out the history," the former student activist said here on Thursday in connection with Gus Dur's death due to illness on Wednesday.
Andi said a week before Gus Dur was unseated by the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) on July 24, 2001 he and several other student activists such as Faisol Reza, Haris Moti and others met with Gus Dur at a house on Jalan Irian in Menteng, Central Jakarta.
At the time Gus Dur asked them not to worry about his presidency because several key members in the armed forces (TNI) and the police supported him.
"I argued then by saying that now is the civilian era so TNI and the police would follow what the parliament would say. Gus Dur however told us to remain calm saying the parliament would be overcome because a lot of its members still supported me," he said.
He said Gus Dur looked very confident at the time that none would betray him.
"We then just believed in what he said although in our heart we had different calculations. What we had worried about was later proven true. Gus Dur was impeached by the parliament," he said.
He said he felt a big loss because of the death of the great figure of democracy in Indonesia.
He said he was grateful he could accompany him at his last moments and see his face who was rather pale while being taken from the second to the fifth floor where he was to be treated.
"I came along with Velix Wanggai (the presient's special staff)and could not help crying seeing the anti-feodialism and anti-bureaucratism figure who was unseated while he was just starting his fight," he said.
Gus Dur held the post of the fourth president of Indonesia from October 20, 1999 to July 24, 2001. ***
