Jakarta – Indonesia's former president Abdurrahman Wahid is suing the General Election Commission for US$110 million (S$189 million) after it disqualified him from the July presidential race on health grounds.
Mr Abdurrahman, who was impeached for incompetence in 2001, said he is suing the election commission for its arrogance, discrimination against a disabled person and for crippling democracy.
He filed a civil suit against three institutions he deems responsible for disqualifying him from the July 5 direct presidential election – the General Election Commission (KPU), the Ministry of Health and the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI).
Lawyer Ikhsan Abdullah said a health examination was not adequate to gauge whether or not someone could be declared physically fit to run for the presidency.
The health examination criteria for presidential candidates were drawn up jointly by the KPU and the IDI.
Mr Ikhsan also said that one of KPU's regulations on qualifying candidates was discriminatory and constituted a violation of human rights.
"We will also seek a judicial review by the Supreme Court on the ruling," he said. The team filed a petition for the review yesterday. When asked why the Health Ministry was included in the suit, he said the ministry was responsible for authorising the cooperation between the KPU and the IDI.
In a departure from his usual open manner, Gus Dur declined to comment on the move. Immediately after handing the suit to the court bailiff, he was rushed to a van that took him to the headquarters of Muslim organisation Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) in Central Jakarta.
The KPU declared on Sunday the five pairings that had qualified for the presidential race, excluding Gus Dur and running mate Marwah Daud Ibrahim, who were nominated by the National Awakening Party (PKB).
KPU deputy chairman Ramlan Surbakti hailed Gus Dur's legal move, saying it was better than calling on his supporters to take to the streets and resorting to violence.
Meanwhile, Mr Wiranto's running mate and former human rights activist Solahuddin Wahid, who is Gus Dur's brother, said PKB should fulfil its promise to support the Golkar candidates following Gus Dur's disqualification.
PKB leaders and a group of NU clerics agreed in their meeting in East Java earlier this month to support the Wiranto-Solahuddin duo if Gus Dur was disqualified.
Mr Solahuddin was quoted by Antara as saying he would utilise the political network of the PKB and Golkar.