Jakarta – The publication in Gatra magazine this week of a list of prominent figures from NGOs, business and past and current governments who have allegedly sought to discredit the President and destabilise his presidency has stirred up immense interest, not least from those on it.

As cited in "Who's on Wahid's List? Part I" 40 prominent Indonesians have been singled out as President Abdurrahman Wahid's particular political foes. The publication of the Gatra article listing the 40 was concurrent with remarks made by the President at a high profile Forum in Bali on the weekend that he was planning to detain those seeking to destabilise his presidency through provoking communal unrest.

Few observers of Indonesian politics doubt that the President has adversaries, that outside forces are stirring communal violence in the provinces and that this situation serves the interests of certain parties. The problem is that the speculative nature of this political storm means that those listed can seize the moral ground and even make fun of themselves and the President in the process. Detik managed to catch up with several of those singled out yesterday and today.

Parni Hadi, Chairman of the Republika Newspaper only commented, "Not bad, number 4," adding that it was an honor to be named the "number four" adversary of President Wahid, also known as Gus Dur.

Parni stated that democracy demanded a critical outlook on government. "My criticisms will not taper off. Criticism must be done freely. If a criticism is considered harmful, there are proper channels, just use the right of reply. I'm not afraid. Besides, where are they going to get rid of me this time?" he said assertively.

Parni also confirmed that he has filed a legal suit against the President for sacking him as Chairman of the Indonesian state-owned news agency (Antara) without prior notice. He was replaced by Drs. Mohammad Sobary, MA.

Similar to Parni Hadi, Al Chaidar, a writer and Muslim intellectual, was happy to be on the list (#39). In his statement received by Detik on Monday he said "As a good foe, I will oppose him fairly and gently, not attacking from the back or spreading slander because the sins will return to me."

If Parni responded calmly, Yorrys Raweyai was exulted when he found out he was listed at number 27. This leader of the Pancasila Youth organisation (Pemuda Pancasila), linked to the Suharto regime and military and numerous cases of violating the law and human rights, was contacted by Detik in Singapore where he is currently holidaying with family. He couldn't believe that he was listed at 27, even before former President Suharto. "Oh really! It's unbelievable, am I'm even bigger than Suharto himself?," he said in a mocking tone.

Yorrys claimed he hadn't heard that Gatra listed him amongst the President's political foes. "Really?. But who are we anyway? Only common people. Without the potential to become the enemies of a president," he said.

Today, Adi Sasono, Minister of Cooperatives and Small Enterprises in the transitional Habibie cabinet currently visiting Canberra, told the Australian newspaper that after 7 months in the top position, Gus Dur had proven that he was "not fit for the job".

"If this man could not prove that he can manage the country, we should give the chance to other people," Mr Sasono told The Australian. "The cost is too high. The human cost in the last seven months is much larger than in the last 10 years under Suharto's time." Asked who should replace Mr Wahid, Mr Sasono said: "The only possibility from article 8 in the constitution is Megawati." Gus Dur once accused him of masterminding religious clashes in Tasikmalaya, West Java two years ago.

More assertive responses have come from members of the current government, such as Eki Syharudin, a member of Golkar and linked to the old-boys network established through the Association of Islamic Students (HMI). He warned that the President's power only stretches so far. "The mechanisms he is using are not problem solving but the mechanisms of war," Eki told Detik yesterday adding that, "The power of the government is through the Attorney General, where the President has apparently ordered the detention of the aforementioned [those on the 40 list]. While the power of the House is in it's voting right. If power is measured in the voting right, the President will definitely lose."

Meanwhile, the two men on the top of the list, Fuad Bawazier and Ginanjar Kartasasmita, have both expressed frustrations with the President's methods while claiming to be squeaky clean, pursue legal means to defend their names as well as claim that the whole affair will only hurt the President.

Fuad, a leading figure in the campaign to elect Wahid, told Detik by phone yesterday that "He's a crazy person [meaning the President], I'm not even going to respond, it's water off a duck's back to me." When asked if he had funded unrest and riots in Indonesia Fuad said firmly, "That's not true. The accusation is baseless and contains no truth."

He also lashed out at the PKB, the National Awakening Party, which the President nominally heads. "The way they talk, you'd think the PKB was the law. The apparatus for upholding the law are the police and the Attorney General ... Basically we will be exercising our legal rights, there are such things as lawyers and we will be opposing [the accusations] with whatever means possible," he said animatedly adding that, "The President is only digging his own grave."

The interview with Ginandjar followed a similar line. Ginandjar has actually made himself openly accessible to Detik since rumors first spread several weeks ago that he was behind measures to promote Megawati Sukarnoputri, the current Vice President, to take over as President during the August session of the parliament.

He told Detik yesterday that, "The news has come from Gus Dur and only Gus Dur knows about it." He also denied any links to the violence unleashed in the provinces lately, maintained that he would be defending himself through legal channels and face up to his responsibilities before the law and the House.

While speculation dominates, the President has also come in for criticism from democracy activists for once again issuing statements that only confuse the public. J.E Sahetapy, though freely admitting that investigations into the corrupt have languished under the influence of the old status quo, has stated that the public are primarily tired of old style politics which the President seems to be mimicking. "If it's indeed possible, bring them out [those on the 40 list] rather than acting like the wayang, [pointing the finger at] the puppetmaster behind the scenes while all that's seen is a dream," Sahetapy told a seminar in Jakarta yesterday.

One of Indonesia's leading lawyers, Todung Mulya Lubis stated that the greatest concern is that the President has appeared to bypass the proper legal channels, adding that he may have indirectly violated the law. "This is all very regrettable," he told Detik yesterday, "because there's no legal certainty. We all hoped that Gus Dur [as the President is known] would be transparent and open it all up for the public. But it turns out that Gus Dur's accusations have only distanced him from the public. Great, if there's proof, if there isn't, just don't go spreading it around." A sentiment echoed by democracy activists throughout the country and business leaders alike as the public wonders if justice will ever reign supreme and Indonesian markets take a dive.

[Reporters: Ananda I, Shinta NM/Lyndal M & Fitri W]