The Breakthrough Has Gone

THE BREAKTHROUGH HAS GONE

     The fourth president of Indonesia, Abdurrahman Ad Dakhil Wahid, aka Gus Dur (pronounced like Goose and Doer) passed away at the age of sixty nine in Jakarta on December 29, 2009 after suffering from diabetes and stroke for many years. 

       His name is really meaningful.  Abdurrahman is an Arabic word means the servant of god the merciful.  Ad Dakhil is also an Arabic word which means the breakthrough.  Wahid is an Arabic word which means number one.  For Muslim and for Javanese people name is prayer.  It is a wish of his parents. Later their prayer was fulfilled.  He became a good servant of God, number one person in Indonesia and he made many breakthroughs in Indonesia.

     In an interview with an Indonesian magazine in 1987 he said that the Islamic greeting of Assalamualaikum can be replaced with Indonesian words of Selamat Pagi (good morning).  This statement soon sparked protest from many Muslims.  Their protest is based on the notion that the phrase Assalamualaikum is not merely a greeting.  The phrase means may peace, prosperity and God’s love is yours.  So for Muslim the phrase is a prayer.  It is totally different from ordinary greeting of selamat pagi (good morning).  Therefore it is irreplaceable.  But Gus Dur has his own explanation.  Indonesia is a plural society.  There are hundreds of ethnic groups and language. In addition, all religions exist in Indonesia.  That’s why Indonesian must use a greeting which is understood and acceptable for all Indonesian.  The phrase selamat pagi which mean good morning is the national language.  It is understood and acceptable by all ethnic groups and all religions.  So it is a solution for a pluralistic society.

     Gus Dur is a real pluralist. He realized and admitted the plurality of Indonesia.  He had a good relationship with minority groups like Chinese, Christians, Buddhist and Hindus.  When he was president he withdrew government regulation which banned Chinese language and culture in Indonesia.  He also admitted to his administration Confucianism as a religion.  Consequently Chinese are allowed to organize their cultural and religious activities, including marriage.  In Christmas celebration he deployed his followers in Nahdlatul Ulama to guard the churches.  When Israel attacked Gaza there were many protests in Indonesia.  Who guards the Jewish synagogues?  The boys from Nahdlatul Ulama, the biggest Muslim organization which was founded by Gus Dur’s grandfather.  When people in Indonesian province of Papua want independence from Indonesia he fought for their rights.  When the authority banned their flag Gus Dur defend their rights to have their own flag.  The list is endless.  So Gus Dur is a protector for minority groups in Indonesia.

     When Indonesia was under the authoritarian rule of Suharto, Gus Dur struggled for democracy.  He established Forum Demokrasi in Jakarta to discuss and promote democracy in Indonesia.  When he was president he appointed a civilian as the minister of defense, a position long held by military generals.  He pushed the army out of politics and back to barrack.   Even as president he was very close to common people.  Islamic clergymen who wear very simple dress may come to palace without any complicated protocol.  He was also very close to artist, both modern and traditional.  Once he was the chairman of Jakarta Academy of Art.

     Once he visited Israel although many Muslims condemned Israel.  He disagreed with many Muslims over Palestinian issue.  His moderate position also makes him disagree with many Muslim over the issue of Salman Rushdie, the writer of Satanic Verses.  In short Gus Dur made the face of Islam  peaceful, friendly to all religion and ethnic groups, and moderate.  He really applied an important principle in Islam which says that Islam is rahmatan lil alamin (Islam is love to universe).

     Besides his positive sides as a hero of democracy, pluralism, tolerance, humanism, art, and national integration, he also had some weaknesses.  One of his weaknesses is his erratic behavior.  It is very hard for him to get organized.  When he was president, his foreign policy is very erratic.  He visited many countries which are not Indonesia’s interest.  People think that he did not understand Indonesia’s national interest and priority.  The way he makes decision is hard to understand.  For his followers in   Nahdlatul Ulama he is considered as a saint but for his staff at presidential office, observers, students, politicians, journalist, professors, he is an erratic man.  People said that he made decision just because of a hunch.   This factor is one of the reasons, beside corruption charges, behind his impeachment in 2001.

     He came to power in 1999.  At that time the president is elected by Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat (People’s Representative Assembly) as the highest state body.  He was supported by Poros Tengah (Central Axis), a coalition of Islamic parties under Amin Rais, the chairman of National Mandate party and MPR.   But in 2001 it was Amin Rais who rally support that lead to his impeachment.  Gus Dur was considered incompetent as an administrator while Indonesia faced a serious problem which needs an excellent administrator.

     Now Gus Dur left us.  This is a tragic loss to Indonesia.  He will be remembered by all Indonesians – Muslims, Christians, Buddhist, and Hindus for his outstanding contributions for democracy, peace, freedom of expression, and many more.  May he rest in peace.