ABDURRAHMAN Wahid, 69, loved and known by millions of Indonesians as Gus Dur, was a brilliant, eccentric, humorous, humane Muslim cleric and former president who had taught his people the importance of tolerance in a multi-ethnic and religious society.
He was a courageous, outspoken critic during the late president Suharto's 32-year autocratic rule.
And the courage to speak up for what he believed to be the truth never wavered, even if it meant going against the tide.
Gus Dur was the one Indonesian leader who spoke up loudly for Malaysia whenever anti-Malaysian sentiment was stoked.
In 2007, when tension was high and hundreds of people demonstrated outside the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta over the alleged beating of an Indonesian karate referee by Malaysian cops, Gus Dur told the people not to jump to conclusions.
"Malaysian cops do not simply go around bashing up people," Gus Dur said.
Not once did Gus Dur jump on the anti-Malaysia bandwagon, like so many politicians and public figures in his midst, to gain sympathy or votes.
One of the most sensitive issues involved the unresolved sovereignty claims over Ambalat by Malaysia and Indonesia. In recent years, the Ambalat issue was raised over and over again, triggering much public anger and raising tension between the two countries.
Gus Dur publicly called for dialogue each time the issue was raised and told the government that claims on Ambalat must be resolved through dialogue and not by military means, as demanded by ultra-nationalist elements in the country.
Gus Dur was born into a family of ulama in Jombang, East Java, on Sept 7, 1940. His grandfather, Hasyim Ansya'ri, founded the country's largest Muslim organisation Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).
NU claims to have 40 million followers.
In 1984, Gus Dur was elected to head NU, a position he held for 15 years before stepping down to assume the presidency in 1999.
As the chairman of NU, Gus Dur turned the organisation into a moderate, liberal, inclusive organisation, teaching his followers to embrace people of different races and religion as one.
And millions of people listened, for his followers knew Gus Dur was the real thing -- despite his periodic controversial statements, which confused some, and his visionary wisdom which was often beyond the comprehension of most.
Etched forever in their minds was a man who despite being left virtually blind by a stroke and confined to a wheelchair, continued to zigzag throughout rural Indonesia to listen to the people and to comfort them with his concern and patience.
Neither physical disability nor high office was ever allowed to be an obstacle to his interaction with the people.
While president, Gus Dur continued to descend into the countryside with vibrant energy, visiting several districts or even provinces in a day, leaving his fit and burly presidential guards exhausted.
He was the first Indonesian president to open the gates of the presidential palace to ordinary people for Hari Raya, and they descended by the thousands to greet him in their sarongs and sandals.
His presidency only lasted two years, from 1999 to 2001, torn apart by intense political rivalry and a broken economy devastated by the 1997 Asian financial crisis.
Gus Dur's disorganised style of administration, combined with his frequently controversial public statements, earned the ire of the political elite who later conspired to vote him out of office in July 2001.
Brief and flawed, Gus Dur's presidency nevertheless laid the foundation for democracy in the country.
He dissolved the Ministry of Information, which was used to control the press during Suharto's time, paving the way for a free press.
He restored the rights of ethnic Chinese by lifting a 32-year-old ban on displaying Chinese characters and culture.
He also started the process to declare Chinese New Year as a public holiday.
He was the only Indonesian president to apologise to the people of East Timor (Timor Leste) for the atrocities inflicted during Suharto's rule.
The Jakarta Post calls him the president who was "closest to the people" and who had left behind a legacy which would outlast presidents who served much longer than him.
Gus Dur was close to the people because he kept his heart close to them and had never forgotten the true meaning of leadership -- to serve, to educate and to sacrifice.
Indonesia and the world lost a great teacher on Wednesday
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Thursday, December 31, 2009
Former Indonesian president Gus Dur dies at 69
Former Indonesian president Gus Dur dies at 69
2009/12/30
JAKARTA: Former Indonesian president Abdurrahman Wahid died in hospital on Wednesday aged 69, after a long battle with illness, a party official said.
Wahid was Indonesia’s fourth president, coming to power in 1999 after the country’s first general elections following the fall of military strongman Suharto in 1998.
Popularly known as Gus Dur, he was practically blind, diabetic and had suffered strokes.
“Gus Dur just passed away,” said Lukman Edy from Wahid’s National Awakening Party.
Local television reported that the cause of death was heart failure but this had not been confirmed.
A moderate religious scholar, Wahid was criticised in office for his erratic leadership style and was sacked by the national assembly in 2001 amid unproven allegations of corruption and incompetence.
Wahid defeated Megawati Sukarnoputri to scoop the presidency in a parliamentary vote, even though her Democratic Party of Struggle put in the strongest showing in a general election earlier in 1999.
She replaced him after his tumultuous dismissal by lawmakers.
Indonesia held its first direct presidential elections in 2004, which were won by the incumbent Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
AFP
2009/12/30
JAKARTA: Former Indonesian president Abdurrahman Wahid died in hospital on Wednesday aged 69, after a long battle with illness, a party official said.
Wahid was Indonesia’s fourth president, coming to power in 1999 after the country’s first general elections following the fall of military strongman Suharto in 1998.
Popularly known as Gus Dur, he was practically blind, diabetic and had suffered strokes.
“Gus Dur just passed away,” said Lukman Edy from Wahid’s National Awakening Party.
Local television reported that the cause of death was heart failure but this had not been confirmed.
A moderate religious scholar, Wahid was criticised in office for his erratic leadership style and was sacked by the national assembly in 2001 amid unproven allegations of corruption and incompetence.
Wahid defeated Megawati Sukarnoputri to scoop the presidency in a parliamentary vote, even though her Democratic Party of Struggle put in the strongest showing in a general election earlier in 1999.
She replaced him after his tumultuous dismissal by lawmakers.
Indonesia held its first direct presidential elections in 2004, which were won by the incumbent Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
AFP
White House mourns Gus Dur
White House mourns Gus Dur
2009/12/31
HONOLULU: The White House Wednesday mourned Indonesia’s ex-president Abdurrahman Wahid, praising him as a paragon of religious tolerance who played a vital role in a democratic transition.
“The people of the United States join Indonesians in mourning the death of former President Abdurrahman Wahid,” White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said in a statement.
“A pivotal figure in Indonesia’s transition to democracy, President Wahid will be remembered for his commitment to democratic principles, inclusive politics, and religious tolerance,” Gibbs said.
“He worked for peace and prosperity for all Indonesians, and he sought to be a bridge between people of different faiths. We extend our deepest condolences to former President Wahid’s family and to the people of Indonesia.”
Wahid, who came to power in 1999 after Indonesia’s first general elections following the fall of military strongman Suharto, died in hospital earlier Wednesday, aged 69.
President Barack Obama, currently vacationing in his native Hawaii, spent a number of childhood years in Indonesia, a period which he has said left him with many fond memories. -- AFP
2009/12/31
HONOLULU: The White House Wednesday mourned Indonesia’s ex-president Abdurrahman Wahid, praising him as a paragon of religious tolerance who played a vital role in a democratic transition.
“The people of the United States join Indonesians in mourning the death of former President Abdurrahman Wahid,” White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said in a statement.
“A pivotal figure in Indonesia’s transition to democracy, President Wahid will be remembered for his commitment to democratic principles, inclusive politics, and religious tolerance,” Gibbs said.
“He worked for peace and prosperity for all Indonesians, and he sought to be a bridge between people of different faiths. We extend our deepest condolences to former President Wahid’s family and to the people of Indonesia.”
Wahid, who came to power in 1999 after Indonesia’s first general elections following the fall of military strongman Suharto, died in hospital earlier Wednesday, aged 69.
President Barack Obama, currently vacationing in his native Hawaii, spent a number of childhood years in Indonesia, a period which he has said left him with many fond memories. -- AFP
enigmatic former president Abdurrahman
Dec 31, 09 12:00pmIndonesia prepared Thursday to bury enigmatic former president Abdurrahman Wahid, a devout Muslim scholar who courted ties with Israel and staunchly defended the country's pluralist traditions.
Flags were flying at half mast as a sign of respect for the frail but pugnacious Wahid, who died in hospital on Wednesday evening aged 69 due to complications arising from diabetes and stroke.
Popularly known as Gus Dur, he was practically blind and in later years used a wheelchair, but remained active in public life until the end.
He was Indonesia's fourth president, coming to power in 1999 after the country's first general elections following the fall of military strongman Suharto in 1998.
In a nationally-televised address, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called on Indonesians to pay Wahid their "highest respects".
"I say this with prayers and hope that he is accepted at the side of God for his enormous service to the public, the nation and our beloved state," he said.
Wahid is expected to be buried around midday in a family graveyard at his birthplace in Jombang, East Java, in a ceremony to be presided over by Yudhoyono.
An exciting period
His younger brother, Salahuddin Wahid, told AFP the family was "shocked, sad and grieving".
"He was humorous, happy, clever, brave and really cared about the community. He was full of life and his fighting spirit was strong. Even when he was sick, he would fight on," he said.
Wahid rose to political prominence through his role as a leader of one of the country's biggest mass Islamic movements, the moderate Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), having been a critic of Suharto during the general's three-decade rule.
He defeated Megawati Sukarnoputri to scoop the presidency in a parliamentary vote, even though her Democratic Party of Struggle put in the strongest showing in a general election earlier in 1999.
His time in government was an exciting period of democratic change under the country's post-Suharto "Reformasi" drive, and Wahid was an enthusiastic advocate of ethnic and religious tolerance.
But there were also fears the unwieldy, Muslim-majority archipelago of 234 million people would crumble under the weight of separatist and sectarian conflicts in places such as Aceh, Papua and the Malukus.
Violent Islamic extremism reared its head with the coordinated Christmas-eve bombings of churches in Jakarta and other cities in 2000, which killed 18 people and were blamed on regional terror network Jemaah Islamiyah.
Wahid's response was to crack down on Islamist extremists while seeking dialogue and conciliation with ethnic separatists, the latter strategy putting him at odds both with the military and the Jakarta elite.
Stood for tolerance
He also broke a taboo in Indonesian politics by calling for diplomatic relations with Israel, and backed the lifting of a Cold War-era ban on communism.
It was the liberal and democratic ideas that had earned him international respect that ironically were often at the core of the steady growth of domestic opposition to his leadership.
A moderate religious scholar, Wahid was also criticised in office for his erratic leadership style and was sacked by the national assembly in 2001 amid unproven allegations of corruption and incompetence.
Despite his obvious ailments, Wahid led an active public life and even considered a comeback for the 2009 presidential elections, even if he was often photographed snoozing at conferences and meetings.There's an easy way to plan for retirement. Find out how.
NU vice-president Maskuri Abdillah said Wahid would be remembered as a "pluralist" who stood for tolerance in the most populous Muslim-majority country.
"His death is a big loss not just to Nahdlatul Ulama, but also to Indonesians from all races and faiths," he said.
Flags were flying at half mast as a sign of respect for the frail but pugnacious Wahid, who died in hospital on Wednesday evening aged 69 due to complications arising from diabetes and stroke.
Popularly known as Gus Dur, he was practically blind and in later years used a wheelchair, but remained active in public life until the end.
He was Indonesia's fourth president, coming to power in 1999 after the country's first general elections following the fall of military strongman Suharto in 1998.
In a nationally-televised address, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called on Indonesians to pay Wahid their "highest respects".
"I say this with prayers and hope that he is accepted at the side of God for his enormous service to the public, the nation and our beloved state," he said.
Wahid is expected to be buried around midday in a family graveyard at his birthplace in Jombang, East Java, in a ceremony to be presided over by Yudhoyono.
An exciting period
His younger brother, Salahuddin Wahid, told AFP the family was "shocked, sad and grieving".
"He was humorous, happy, clever, brave and really cared about the community. He was full of life and his fighting spirit was strong. Even when he was sick, he would fight on," he said.
Wahid rose to political prominence through his role as a leader of one of the country's biggest mass Islamic movements, the moderate Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), having been a critic of Suharto during the general's three-decade rule.
He defeated Megawati Sukarnoputri to scoop the presidency in a parliamentary vote, even though her Democratic Party of Struggle put in the strongest showing in a general election earlier in 1999.
His time in government was an exciting period of democratic change under the country's post-Suharto "Reformasi" drive, and Wahid was an enthusiastic advocate of ethnic and religious tolerance.
But there were also fears the unwieldy, Muslim-majority archipelago of 234 million people would crumble under the weight of separatist and sectarian conflicts in places such as Aceh, Papua and the Malukus.
Violent Islamic extremism reared its head with the coordinated Christmas-eve bombings of churches in Jakarta and other cities in 2000, which killed 18 people and were blamed on regional terror network Jemaah Islamiyah.
Wahid's response was to crack down on Islamist extremists while seeking dialogue and conciliation with ethnic separatists, the latter strategy putting him at odds both with the military and the Jakarta elite.
Stood for tolerance
He also broke a taboo in Indonesian politics by calling for diplomatic relations with Israel, and backed the lifting of a Cold War-era ban on communism.
It was the liberal and democratic ideas that had earned him international respect that ironically were often at the core of the steady growth of domestic opposition to his leadership.
A moderate religious scholar, Wahid was also criticised in office for his erratic leadership style and was sacked by the national assembly in 2001 amid unproven allegations of corruption and incompetence.
Despite his obvious ailments, Wahid led an active public life and even considered a comeback for the 2009 presidential elections, even if he was often photographed snoozing at conferences and meetings.There's an easy way to plan for retirement. Find out how.
NU vice-president Maskuri Abdillah said Wahid would be remembered as a "pluralist" who stood for tolerance in the most populous Muslim-majority country.
"His death is a big loss not just to Nahdlatul Ulama, but also to Indonesians from all races and faiths," he said.
Indonesian Agenda
Published: 12:01AM BST 21 Oct 2004
Indonesia has come a long way politically since Suharto stepped down in 1998, after more than 30 years of authoritarian rule.
Yesterday in Jakarta, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was sworn in as head of state, having won a landslide victory in the country's first direct presidential election on September 20.
Related Articles
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Indonesian elections: first polls open
Indonesia bombings: terrorists 'planned' twin Jakarta attack from hotel room
Is Indonesia the next economy to bet on?
Indonesia investigates cause of plane crash that killed 98He succeeds Megawati Sukarnoputri, daughter of Indonesia's independence leader, who took office in 2001 after President Abdurrahman Wahid had been impeached by parliament for corruption.
Democracy's road has not been smooth, but the population of the world's largest Muslim nation has shown no inclination to revert to the military-dominated governments of the past.
Given that the new president is a former general, his success might seem paradoxical. But the framework in which he has to operate has greatly changed since the advent of democracy.
The system of dwi fungsi, under which the army both defended and ran the country, has collapsed. Whereas Suharto could count on a tame parliament dominated by Golkar, Gen Yudhoyono's Parti Demokrat won only 7.45 per cent of the vote in elections to the House of Representatives in April.
After being eclipsed, Golkar is again the largest party, but, given its members' wide support for the new president, he may be able to cobble together a working parliamentary majority.
His main tasks, as outlined in his acceptance speech, are huge. He has promised to tackle corruption in a country deeply addicted to it, hoping thereby to stimulate an economy that, growing at four per cent, is not providing nearly enough job opportunities.
He has vowed to step up the fight against Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), the Indonesian terrorist organisation with suspected links to al-Qa'eda, and has hinted at introducing tougher laws to that effect.
JI carried out the Bali bombing of 2002, which killed more than 200 people, among them 88 Australians, and is strongly suspected of being behind attacks in Jakarta on the Marriott Hotel in 2003 and on the Australian Embassy last month.
As well as graft and terrorism, Gen Yudhoyono faces a long-running rebellion in the Sumatran province of Aceh, a lesser insurrection in Irian Jaya and the need to bring the military more fully under civilian control.
Such an agenda is a mighty challenge to the authority of this personable but largely unproven ex-soldier. He has a democratic mandate unprecedented in Indonesia's history. We wish him success.
Indonesia has come a long way politically since Suharto stepped down in 1998, after more than 30 years of authoritarian rule.
Yesterday in Jakarta, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was sworn in as head of state, having won a landslide victory in the country's first direct presidential election on September 20.
Related Articles
Indonesia election: early results show victory for Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Indonesian elections: first polls open
Indonesia bombings: terrorists 'planned' twin Jakarta attack from hotel room
Is Indonesia the next economy to bet on?
Indonesia investigates cause of plane crash that killed 98He succeeds Megawati Sukarnoputri, daughter of Indonesia's independence leader, who took office in 2001 after President Abdurrahman Wahid had been impeached by parliament for corruption.
Democracy's road has not been smooth, but the population of the world's largest Muslim nation has shown no inclination to revert to the military-dominated governments of the past.
Given that the new president is a former general, his success might seem paradoxical. But the framework in which he has to operate has greatly changed since the advent of democracy.
The system of dwi fungsi, under which the army both defended and ran the country, has collapsed. Whereas Suharto could count on a tame parliament dominated by Golkar, Gen Yudhoyono's Parti Demokrat won only 7.45 per cent of the vote in elections to the House of Representatives in April.
After being eclipsed, Golkar is again the largest party, but, given its members' wide support for the new president, he may be able to cobble together a working parliamentary majority.
His main tasks, as outlined in his acceptance speech, are huge. He has promised to tackle corruption in a country deeply addicted to it, hoping thereby to stimulate an economy that, growing at four per cent, is not providing nearly enough job opportunities.
He has vowed to step up the fight against Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), the Indonesian terrorist organisation with suspected links to al-Qa'eda, and has hinted at introducing tougher laws to that effect.
JI carried out the Bali bombing of 2002, which killed more than 200 people, among them 88 Australians, and is strongly suspected of being behind attacks in Jakarta on the Marriott Hotel in 2003 and on the Australian Embassy last month.
As well as graft and terrorism, Gen Yudhoyono faces a long-running rebellion in the Sumatran province of Aceh, a lesser insurrection in Irian Jaya and the need to bring the military more fully under civilian control.
Such an agenda is a mighty challenge to the authority of this personable but largely unproven ex-soldier. He has a democratic mandate unprecedented in Indonesia's history. We wish him success.
Condolences to Gus Dur’s family
Friday January 1, 2010
Condolences to Gus Dur’s family
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has conveyed his condolences to the family of Abdurrahman Wahid and the people of Indonesia over the death of the former president.
Known affectionately as Gus Dur, the Indonesian leader died of health complications in Jakarta on Wednesday. He was 69.
“Gus Dur’s impact on shaping Indonesia cannot be understated. Both a statesman and a scholar, he strove to bring about change and reform that embodied Islamic values,” Najib said in his blog www.1malaysia.com.my.
“He was a man who was ahead of his time, and an adamant believer in the importance of tolerance and unity and in the need to protect the weak, including the minorities,” he said.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Jamil Khir Baharom represented Malaysia at the funeral in Jombang, East Java, yesterday. — Bernama
Condolences to Gus Dur’s family
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has conveyed his condolences to the family of Abdurrahman Wahid and the people of Indonesia over the death of the former president.
Known affectionately as Gus Dur, the Indonesian leader died of health complications in Jakarta on Wednesday. He was 69.
“Gus Dur’s impact on shaping Indonesia cannot be understated. Both a statesman and a scholar, he strove to bring about change and reform that embodied Islamic values,” Najib said in his blog www.1malaysia.com.my.
“He was a man who was ahead of his time, and an adamant believer in the importance of tolerance and unity and in the need to protect the weak, including the minorities,” he said.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Jamil Khir Baharom represented Malaysia at the funeral in Jombang, East Java, yesterday. — Bernama
Thousands of mourners
Published: Thursday December 31, 2009 MYT 12:59:00 PM
Updated: Thursday December 31, 2009 MYT 1:45:37 PM
Thousands throng to mourn ‘Gus Dur’
JAKARTA: Thousands of mourners thronged roads Thursday in Indonesia to say farewell to late President Abdurrahman Wahid, a beloved, one-eyed cleric who reached out to religious minorities in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation.
Wahid, who ruled for nearly two years of tumult as Indonesia embarked on a path to democracy in 1999 after three decades of dictatorship, died in a hospital Wednesday. He was 69.
A memorial service was to be led by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono before his burial in his East Java hometown, Jombang, where about 5,000 supporters had gathered to welcome his motorcade. Wahid’s body was being flown from the capital, Jakarta, as a week of national mourning got under way.
Supporters sprinkle flowers on the portrait of former Indonesian president Abdurrahman Wahid, popularly known as 'Gus Dur', during a candle light vigil in Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia, Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2009. Wahid, who briefly ruled during the nation's first tumultuous years of democracy and sought peace in far-flung secessionist provinces, died Wednesday. He was 69. - AP
There was a massive outpouring of sentiment for a man whose open style, impromptu joke-telling and naps during his own speeches endeared him to the masses. Weeping admirers lit candles and incense and said prayers at vigils held at mosques, churches, temples, schools and landmarks.
Wahid, known fondly by his nickname Gus Dur, was a democratic reformer and proponent of moderate Islam who ultimately was unable to implement his ambitious ideas amid the financial and political chaos that dominated the vast island state of 235 million people during his presidency.
A White House statement said Wahid was “a pivotal figure” in Indonesia’s transition to free government who “will be remembered for his commitment to democratic principles, inclusive politics, and religious tolerance.”
During his short term, from October 1999 to July 2001, Wahid led a broad coalition of unity but was eventually impeached after firing Yudhoyono, then a Cabinet minister, for refusing to declare a state of emergency when the army positioned tanks facing the Presidential Palace.
Wahid had been in the intensive care unit of Ciptomangunkusumo Hospital in Jakarta for the past week.
The former president died during surgery to remove a blood clot in his heart, said professor Yusuf Misbach, head of his medical team. Wahid’s condition had deteriorated because of complications with diabetes and kidney failure, he said.
Wahid had struggled with illness for years and was confined to a wheelchair. Nearly blind, he also suffered serious kidney problems and diabetes.
“We lost a great statesman who had dedicated all of his life to the nation, struggling for the sake of those suffering from injustice,” his younger brother, Solahuddin Wahid, told The Associated Press.
Presidential spokesman Julian Pasha noted Wahid’s widespread popularity.
“We lost one of our greatest figures, who was very much loved by people from all walks of life,” said Pasha.
Abdurrahman ad-Dakhil Wahid was born Sept 7, 1940. His father, Wahid Hasyim, was an independence hero and a minister of religion in the government of Sukarno, Indonesia’s founding father.
Abdurrahman Wahid once led the Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia’s largest Islamic group. As chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama, Wahid continued to push for interfaith dialogue and accepted an invitation to visit Israel in October 1994.
In 1997, he travelled to Tel Aviv where he jointly signed a peace charter promoted by the Simon Perez Institute, a courageous effort at diplomacy in a country that still has no formal diplomatic ties with the Jewish state.
“He was a very open person. ... All minorities, underdogs or those suffering always felt secure with him. That was very extraordinary,” said Franz Magnis-Suseno, a Catholic priest. “He was a humanist. ... For people like me, he emitted a friendly Islam that made us feel safe.”
Wahid was an opponent of Suharto in the dictator’s final years in power. Wahid attempted to establish a truth and reconciliation commission to investigate political killings, disappearances and massacres during Suharto’s 32-year rule, but political opposition was too great.
Wahid was elected Indonesia’s third president on Oct 20, 1999. While in office, he worked for peaceful solutions to secessionist movements in restive provinces such as Aceh and Papua.
He visited East Timor after it became a new nation and apologised for human rights abuses committed by Indonesian forces during its brutal 24-year occupation. Wahid also removed the powerful Gen. Wiranto from his Cabinet over his alleged role in the bloodshed in East Timor. -- AP
Updated: Thursday December 31, 2009 MYT 1:45:37 PM
Thousands throng to mourn ‘Gus Dur’
JAKARTA: Thousands of mourners thronged roads Thursday in Indonesia to say farewell to late President Abdurrahman Wahid, a beloved, one-eyed cleric who reached out to religious minorities in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation.
Wahid, who ruled for nearly two years of tumult as Indonesia embarked on a path to democracy in 1999 after three decades of dictatorship, died in a hospital Wednesday. He was 69.
A memorial service was to be led by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono before his burial in his East Java hometown, Jombang, where about 5,000 supporters had gathered to welcome his motorcade. Wahid’s body was being flown from the capital, Jakarta, as a week of national mourning got under way.
Supporters sprinkle flowers on the portrait of former Indonesian president Abdurrahman Wahid, popularly known as 'Gus Dur', during a candle light vigil in Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia, Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2009. Wahid, who briefly ruled during the nation's first tumultuous years of democracy and sought peace in far-flung secessionist provinces, died Wednesday. He was 69. - AP
There was a massive outpouring of sentiment for a man whose open style, impromptu joke-telling and naps during his own speeches endeared him to the masses. Weeping admirers lit candles and incense and said prayers at vigils held at mosques, churches, temples, schools and landmarks.
Wahid, known fondly by his nickname Gus Dur, was a democratic reformer and proponent of moderate Islam who ultimately was unable to implement his ambitious ideas amid the financial and political chaos that dominated the vast island state of 235 million people during his presidency.
A White House statement said Wahid was “a pivotal figure” in Indonesia’s transition to free government who “will be remembered for his commitment to democratic principles, inclusive politics, and religious tolerance.”
During his short term, from October 1999 to July 2001, Wahid led a broad coalition of unity but was eventually impeached after firing Yudhoyono, then a Cabinet minister, for refusing to declare a state of emergency when the army positioned tanks facing the Presidential Palace.
Wahid had been in the intensive care unit of Ciptomangunkusumo Hospital in Jakarta for the past week.
The former president died during surgery to remove a blood clot in his heart, said professor Yusuf Misbach, head of his medical team. Wahid’s condition had deteriorated because of complications with diabetes and kidney failure, he said.
Wahid had struggled with illness for years and was confined to a wheelchair. Nearly blind, he also suffered serious kidney problems and diabetes.
“We lost a great statesman who had dedicated all of his life to the nation, struggling for the sake of those suffering from injustice,” his younger brother, Solahuddin Wahid, told The Associated Press.
Presidential spokesman Julian Pasha noted Wahid’s widespread popularity.
“We lost one of our greatest figures, who was very much loved by people from all walks of life,” said Pasha.
Abdurrahman ad-Dakhil Wahid was born Sept 7, 1940. His father, Wahid Hasyim, was an independence hero and a minister of religion in the government of Sukarno, Indonesia’s founding father.
Abdurrahman Wahid once led the Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia’s largest Islamic group. As chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama, Wahid continued to push for interfaith dialogue and accepted an invitation to visit Israel in October 1994.
In 1997, he travelled to Tel Aviv where he jointly signed a peace charter promoted by the Simon Perez Institute, a courageous effort at diplomacy in a country that still has no formal diplomatic ties with the Jewish state.
“He was a very open person. ... All minorities, underdogs or those suffering always felt secure with him. That was very extraordinary,” said Franz Magnis-Suseno, a Catholic priest. “He was a humanist. ... For people like me, he emitted a friendly Islam that made us feel safe.”
Wahid was an opponent of Suharto in the dictator’s final years in power. Wahid attempted to establish a truth and reconciliation commission to investigate political killings, disappearances and massacres during Suharto’s 32-year rule, but political opposition was too great.
Wahid was elected Indonesia’s third president on Oct 20, 1999. While in office, he worked for peaceful solutions to secessionist movements in restive provinces such as Aceh and Papua.
He visited East Timor after it became a new nation and apologised for human rights abuses committed by Indonesian forces during its brutal 24-year occupation. Wahid also removed the powerful Gen. Wiranto from his Cabinet over his alleged role in the bloodshed in East Timor. -- AP
Former Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid dies
Wednesday December 30, 2009
Former Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid dies
By Ed Davies and Telly Nathalia
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Former Indonesian leader Abdurrahman Wahid, a Muslim cleric who served as the country's fourth president after years in opposition to strongman President Suharto, died in hospital on Wednesday at the age of 69.
Indonesia's former president Abdurrahman Wahid speaks during an interview in Jakarta June 25, 2008. (REUTERS/Crack Palinggi/Files)
Wahid, usually known as Gus Dur, was president between 1999 and 2001 after taking office on a wave of optimism in the turmoil following Suharto's fall from power.
"He passed away this afternoon," said his aide Sulaiman, who added that his family was at his bedside at the time and current President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was also there.
The head of the Cipto Mangunkusumo hospital in central Jakarta said that his condition had been improving until Tuesday, but he was later transferred to intensive care after problems with his respiratory system and blood vessels.
Yudhoyono later said that Wahid would be given a state funeral in Jombang, East Java, on Thursday.
"I ask all Indonesian people to fly flags at half mast for a week as an expression of our deepest condolence," Yudhoyono said in a televised address.
The jocular cleric became the first Indonesian to win a contested presidential vote in October 1999, edging out Megawati Sukarnoputri, the daughter of founding President Sukarno.
But when he assumed the highest office in the world's fourth most populous country he struggled to deal with the broken economy and an unstable and fragmented political system in need of a strong leader and good manager.
His style was often perceived as bumbling and chaotic, and any hope that his penchant for jokes, formidable intellect and political skills would help lead Indonesia through the transition from authoritarian rule to democracy quickly fell flat.
Wahid's presidency ultimately collapsed amid moves to declare a state of emergency when faced with impeachment over allegations of corruption and incompetence, and he was sacked by parliament and replaced by Megawati.
Wahid suffered several strokes, was nearly blind and had diabetes and regular kidney dialysis, but despite his frail health he remained an influential figure in politics.
He was a staunch defender of moderate Islam and secular politics and was the former leader of Nahdlatul Ulama, a Muslim group with some 40 million members.
He also regularly spoke up for the rights of minorities in the world's most populous Muslim nation.
The former president's body was carried through a throng of people in the lobby of the hospital in a coffin wrapped in green, the traditional colour of Islam, to a waiting car to be taken to the family home in Jakarta.
(Additional reporting by Fitri Wulandari; Editing by Alex Richardson)
Copyright © 2008 Reuters
Former Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid dies
By Ed Davies and Telly Nathalia
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Former Indonesian leader Abdurrahman Wahid, a Muslim cleric who served as the country's fourth president after years in opposition to strongman President Suharto, died in hospital on Wednesday at the age of 69.
Indonesia's former president Abdurrahman Wahid speaks during an interview in Jakarta June 25, 2008. (REUTERS/Crack Palinggi/Files)
Wahid, usually known as Gus Dur, was president between 1999 and 2001 after taking office on a wave of optimism in the turmoil following Suharto's fall from power.
"He passed away this afternoon," said his aide Sulaiman, who added that his family was at his bedside at the time and current President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was also there.
The head of the Cipto Mangunkusumo hospital in central Jakarta said that his condition had been improving until Tuesday, but he was later transferred to intensive care after problems with his respiratory system and blood vessels.
Yudhoyono later said that Wahid would be given a state funeral in Jombang, East Java, on Thursday.
"I ask all Indonesian people to fly flags at half mast for a week as an expression of our deepest condolence," Yudhoyono said in a televised address.
The jocular cleric became the first Indonesian to win a contested presidential vote in October 1999, edging out Megawati Sukarnoputri, the daughter of founding President Sukarno.
But when he assumed the highest office in the world's fourth most populous country he struggled to deal with the broken economy and an unstable and fragmented political system in need of a strong leader and good manager.
His style was often perceived as bumbling and chaotic, and any hope that his penchant for jokes, formidable intellect and political skills would help lead Indonesia through the transition from authoritarian rule to democracy quickly fell flat.
Wahid's presidency ultimately collapsed amid moves to declare a state of emergency when faced with impeachment over allegations of corruption and incompetence, and he was sacked by parliament and replaced by Megawati.
Wahid suffered several strokes, was nearly blind and had diabetes and regular kidney dialysis, but despite his frail health he remained an influential figure in politics.
He was a staunch defender of moderate Islam and secular politics and was the former leader of Nahdlatul Ulama, a Muslim group with some 40 million members.
He also regularly spoke up for the rights of minorities in the world's most populous Muslim nation.
The former president's body was carried through a throng of people in the lobby of the hospital in a coffin wrapped in green, the traditional colour of Islam, to a waiting car to be taken to the family home in Jakarta.
(Additional reporting by Fitri Wulandari; Editing by Alex Richardson)
Copyright © 2008 Reuters
Pictures
gus dur - concentrating in his conversation
gus dur recieving a honoured guest.
gus dur with the millitary
gus dur potrayed as a super hero
sharing a happy moment
gus gur making his point clear
Gus Dur: The Authorized Biography of Abdurrahman Wahid
CONDOLENCES FROM NEIGHBOURS
The condolences from all over the world poured in. The latest is from Japan, Singapore and Malaysia.
Japan's Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, and U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Cameron R Hume conveyed on Thursday their condolences to the family of the late former Indonesian president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid.
Yukio Hatoyama said in a press statement that Gus Dur was a great leader who has promoted reform in Indonesia and improved ties between Indonesia and Japan.
Meanwhile, Lee Hsien Loong said Gus Dur would be remembered as an upholder of moderate Islam and a defender of the minorities.
"He will be missed by his many friends in Indonesia and abroad. Indonesia has lost one of its respected leaders," Lee said in a statement.
Two former Singapore's prime ministers, Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong, and Singapore President S.R. Nathand also sent their condolences to Gus Dur's family.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razad said in his blog www.1malaysia.com.my: ""Gus Dur's impact on shaping Indonesia cannot be understated. Both statesman and scholar, he strove to bring about change and reform that embodied Islamic values."
U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Cameron R. Hume said as quoted by Kompas.com that Gus Dur had many admirers in the U.S and he would be remembered for his good heart, tolerance, commitment to uphold human right and democracy.
Gus Dur died on Wednesday. The world will remember him for his effort to transform the democracy in Indonesia.
Japan's Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, and U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Cameron R Hume conveyed on Thursday their condolences to the family of the late former Indonesian president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid.
Yukio Hatoyama said in a press statement that Gus Dur was a great leader who has promoted reform in Indonesia and improved ties between Indonesia and Japan.
Meanwhile, Lee Hsien Loong said Gus Dur would be remembered as an upholder of moderate Islam and a defender of the minorities.
"He will be missed by his many friends in Indonesia and abroad. Indonesia has lost one of its respected leaders," Lee said in a statement.
Two former Singapore's prime ministers, Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong, and Singapore President S.R. Nathand also sent their condolences to Gus Dur's family.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razad said in his blog www.1malaysia.com.my: ""Gus Dur's impact on shaping Indonesia cannot be understated. Both statesman and scholar, he strove to bring about change and reform that embodied Islamic values."
U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Cameron R. Hume said as quoted by Kompas.com that Gus Dur had many admirers in the U.S and he would be remembered for his good heart, tolerance, commitment to uphold human right and democracy.
Gus Dur died on Wednesday. The world will remember him for his effort to transform the democracy in Indonesia.
2001 Removal from Power
2001 and removal from power(dariwikipedia)
In January, Wahid made the announcement that Chinese New Year was to become an optional holiday.[45] Wahid followed this up in February by lifting the ban on the display of Chinese characters and the importations of Chinese publication. In February, Wahid visited Northern Africa as well as Saudi Arabia to undertake the hajj pilgrimage.[46] Wahid made his last overseas visit in June 2001 when he visited Australia.
At a meeting with university rectors on 27 January 2001, Wahid commented on the possibility of Indonesia descending into anarchy. Wahid then made the suggestion that he may be forced to dissolve the DPR if that happened.[47] Although the meeting was off-the-record, it caused quite a stir and added to the fuel of the movement against him. On 1 February, the DPR met to issue a memorandum against Wahid. Two memorandums constitute an MPR Special Session where the impeachment and removal of a President would be legal. The vote was overwhelmingly for the memorandum and PKB members could only walk out in protest. The memorandum caused widespread protests by NU members. In East Java, NU members went around to Golkar's regional offices and thrashed it. In Jakarta, Wahid's opposition began accusing him of encouraging the protests. Wahid denied it and went to talk to the protesters at the town of Pasuruan; encouraging them to get off the streets.[48] Nevertheless, NU protesters continued to show their support for Wahid and in April, made the announcement that they were ready to defend and die for the President.
In March, Wahid tried to counter the opposition by moving against dissidents within his own Cabinet. Minister of Justice Yusril Ihza Mahendra was removed for making public his demands for the President's resignation while Minister of Forestry Nurmahmudi Ismail was also removed under the suspicion of channeling his department's funds to Wahid's opposition. In response to this, Megawati began to distance herself and did not show up for the inauguration of the Ministers' replacement. On 30 April, the DPR issued a second memorandum and on the next day called for an MPR Special Session to be held on 1 August.
By July, Wahid grew desperate and ordered Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the Coordinating Minister for Politics and Security to declare a State of Emergency. Yudhoyono refused and Wahid removed him from his position. Finally on 20 July, Amien declared that the MPR Special Session will be brought forward to 23 July. TNI, having had a bad relationship with Wahid through his tenure as President, stationed 40,000 troops in Jakarta and placed tanks with their turrets pointing at the Presidential Palace in a show of force.[49] On 23 July, the MPR unanimously voted to impeach Wahid and to replace him with Megawati as President. Wahid continued to insist that he was the President and stayed for some days in the Presidential Palace, but eventually left the residence on 25 July for a trip overseas to the United States for health treatments.
In January, Wahid made the announcement that Chinese New Year was to become an optional holiday.[45] Wahid followed this up in February by lifting the ban on the display of Chinese characters and the importations of Chinese publication. In February, Wahid visited Northern Africa as well as Saudi Arabia to undertake the hajj pilgrimage.[46] Wahid made his last overseas visit in June 2001 when he visited Australia.
At a meeting with university rectors on 27 January 2001, Wahid commented on the possibility of Indonesia descending into anarchy. Wahid then made the suggestion that he may be forced to dissolve the DPR if that happened.[47] Although the meeting was off-the-record, it caused quite a stir and added to the fuel of the movement against him. On 1 February, the DPR met to issue a memorandum against Wahid. Two memorandums constitute an MPR Special Session where the impeachment and removal of a President would be legal. The vote was overwhelmingly for the memorandum and PKB members could only walk out in protest. The memorandum caused widespread protests by NU members. In East Java, NU members went around to Golkar's regional offices and thrashed it. In Jakarta, Wahid's opposition began accusing him of encouraging the protests. Wahid denied it and went to talk to the protesters at the town of Pasuruan; encouraging them to get off the streets.[48] Nevertheless, NU protesters continued to show their support for Wahid and in April, made the announcement that they were ready to defend and die for the President.
In March, Wahid tried to counter the opposition by moving against dissidents within his own Cabinet. Minister of Justice Yusril Ihza Mahendra was removed for making public his demands for the President's resignation while Minister of Forestry Nurmahmudi Ismail was also removed under the suspicion of channeling his department's funds to Wahid's opposition. In response to this, Megawati began to distance herself and did not show up for the inauguration of the Ministers' replacement. On 30 April, the DPR issued a second memorandum and on the next day called for an MPR Special Session to be held on 1 August.
By July, Wahid grew desperate and ordered Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the Coordinating Minister for Politics and Security to declare a State of Emergency. Yudhoyono refused and Wahid removed him from his position. Finally on 20 July, Amien declared that the MPR Special Session will be brought forward to 23 July. TNI, having had a bad relationship with Wahid through his tenure as President, stationed 40,000 troops in Jakarta and placed tanks with their turrets pointing at the Presidential Palace in a show of force.[49] On 23 July, the MPR unanimously voted to impeach Wahid and to replace him with Megawati as President. Wahid continued to insist that he was the President and stayed for some days in the Presidential Palace, but eventually left the residence on 25 July for a trip overseas to the United States for health treatments.
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