The great humanist and former President of Indonesia, Abdurrahman Wahid ("Gus Dur"), beloved by his people, has passed away at age 69. The first President after the New Order regime of President Soeharto to be elected by democratic means, Gus Dur, will be remembered for championing the rights of minorities (especially the Chinese), religious tolerance and pluralism and for his unflagging effort to democratize Indonesia and Islam. A thorn in the side of the powerful, Wahid was the one politician whose instincts and abilities equaled those of President Soeharto. Although political opposites, the two played at the same level, utilizing the sophisticated tools of the consummate Javanese leaders they both were.
I had the pleasure to meet Wahid in the early 1980's after he had first become the head of the largest Muslim organization in Indonesia (NU). His house was often filled with the sounds of Western classical music he loved. Always ahead of his time, Wahid was writing then about adapting computers to the pesantran (rural based schools with an Islamic curriculum). He knew then how to effectively challenge the authoritarian Soeharto regime without ending up in jail; his sagacity as much as his popularity made him untouchable.
As President, Wahid ushered in an era not unlike the Prague spring. The euphoria and sense of weightlessness that followed his inauguration lasted until a push back of elites disturbed and threatened by his reforms and tactics forced him out after only 22 months. He went on to continue to fight for his principles but the collective weight of his infirmities (blindness, strokes, diabetes) limited his political effectiveness.
In 2000 AICC hosted him in New York. Hungry upon his arrival from the airport, the worldly Wahid asked for a bagel, "the food of all New Yorkers", he quipped. He disarmed an audience of investors and corporate chairman with his puns. When an executive of General Electric introduced himself, Gus Dur, replied "Nice to meet you, I also know quite a few generals, some of whom are not too happy with me".
Some of his other notable quotes (courtesy of the Jakarta Globe):
- Suharto was a New Order president. Habibie was In Order and I am No Order.
- The deep problem is that people use religion wrongly in pursuit of victory and triumph. This sad fact then leads to conflict with people who have different beliefs.
- You don't realise that losing the presidency for me is nothing ... I regret more the fact that I lost 27 recordings of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.
- Democracy is not only not haram (forbidden) in Islam but is a compulsory element of Islam. Upholding democracy is one of the principals of Islam, which is syuro (assembly).
- There must no longer be anything to differentiate Indonesians based on religion, mother language, culture and ideology.
- If today there are people calling Islam bad names, we will teach them that Islam is peaceful.
- Seventy percent of our nation is saltwater, so why do we import salt? It's okay being stupid but why are we purposely being ignorant?
- This is an ideal team. The president can't see and the vice president can't talk. --After becoming president alongside the famously taciturn Megawati Sukarnoputri
- I need help to step up, let alone to step down. --On being asked to resign
- If in the past I said that the House of Representatives was a kindergarten, now I say it is a playgroup.
