Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – A House of Representatives' lawmaker has visited the family of Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid and apologized for saying that the late former president was impeached for his involvement in a series of corruption scandals.
After repeatedly claiming that he did no wrong, Democratic Party lawmaker Sutan Bhatoegana visited Sinta Nuriyah, Gus Dur's widow, at the family's residence in Ciganjur, South Jakarta, on Thursday.
"If anyone was offended, I'll immediately withdraw my words and apologize. I hope that my apology will eliminate any tensions that exist between Nahdlatul Ulama [NU] and the Democratic Party," Sutan said.
Sutan was accompanied by Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum to make amends for the brouhaha, which grew out of a discussion at the Regional Representatives Council (DPD).
While speaking at the discussion, Sutan, who sits on House Commission VII overseeing energy, said that Gus Dur was impeached in 2001 due to his involvement in the so-called Bruneigate and Buloggate corruption scandals.
Buloggate centered on the misuse of Rp 35 billion (US$3 million) from the State Logistics Agency's (Bulog) employee welfare fund that were allegedly withdrawn by a masseur and business associate of the former president.
Meanwhile, in Bruneigate, Gus Dur was accused of accepting cash from the Brunei sultanate.
In fact, Gus Dur was impeached following a contentious showdown with the nation's legislature on his competency to govern amid a tumultuous period after the fall of the New Order. The lawmaker was quickly condemned by members of NU, the nation's largest Muslim social organization, for his misstatements about Gus Dur, who was also a Muslim cleric and a previous leader of NU.
Sutan's refusal to apologize for his statements at the DPD over the next several days were met by an increasingly strident response.
NU members rallied at several local Democratic Party offices, demanding that its leaders expel Sutan from the party. The protesters also urged the lawmaker to apologize to Gus Dur, his family and to Nahdlatul Ulama.
Things grew more heated when members of NU's youth movement Gerakan Pemuda Ansor and Banser, a paramilitary wing of NU, threatened to occupy the offices of the Democratic Party's central board (DPP) in Central Jakarta on Tuesday.
Protests against Sutan were also held in Jember, East Java, where Ansor and Banser members threw rotten eggs at the Democratic Party's local office.
Gus Dur's daughter, Yenny Wahid, accepted Sutan's apology on behalf of her family and NU, calling on her father's supporters to end the animosity between them and Sutan.
"We must follow the example that Gus Dur set for us and forgive those who have pleaded guilty. There is too much conflict in this country. We must not add more. Calm down, and let's work together to build our country," Yenny said. (han/lfr)