Abdurrahman Wahid "Gus Dur"

Abdurrahman Wahid, who fondly called as Gus Dur was the fourth President of the Republic of Indonesia starting from October 20, 1999 until July 24, 2001. Wahid rose to political prominence through his role as leader of one of the country's biggest Islamic movements, the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU). He was a critic of military strongman Mr. Suharto during his nearly three decades in power. The Muslim cleric was Indonesia's first democratically elected president. He came to power in 1999 following the fall of military strongman Suharto in 1998. While his time in office was short and tumultuous he is remembered as a key figure in Indonesia's transition to democracy and in establishing a national identity of tolerance.

He was born on August 4, 1940 at Denanyar village, Jombang, East Java. Gus Dur is the first son of six children. His father KH. Wahid Hasyim was a founder of a great organization Nahdlatul Ulama. His mother called Hj. Sholehah was the daughter of the founder of Pesantren Denanyar Jombang, KH Bisri Syamsuri. From her marriage with Sinta Nuriyah, they endowed with four children, namely Alissa Qotrunnada Munawaroh, Zannuba Arifah Chafsoh, Annita Hayatunnufus, and Inayah Wulandari.

Since childhood, Gus Dur had a penchant for reading and diligently used his father's personal library. In addition, he was also active visiting to public library in Jakarta. In his teens, Gus Dur was familiar with a variety of magazines, newspapers, novels and books. Besides, reading, his hobbies were also playing soccer, chess and music. Even so, Gus Dur, was once asked to become a football commentator on television. Other his indulgence, who participated also completing his hobby, was watching movies. His passion led to a deep appreciation in the world of film. This is why Gu Dur in the year 1986-1987 was appointed as the chairman of the Indonesian Film Festival jury.

Gus Dur's adolescence was spent largely in Yogyakarta and Tegalrejo. In these two places, the development of science began to rise. The next period, Gus Dur stayed in Jombang, in Pesantren Tambak Beras, until then continued his studies in Egypt. Before leaving to Egypt, his uncle has postponed a girl for him, namely Sinta Nuriyah the daughter of Haji Muh. Sakur. The marriage was held when Gus Dur was in Egypt.

On his return from wandering in search of knowledge, Gus Dur back to Jombang and choose to become a teacher. In 1971, he joined the Faculty of Ushuludin Tebu Ireng University Jombang. Three years later he became the secretary of Pesantren Tebu Ireng, and in the same year Gus Dur began to become a writer. He returned to his talent as a writer and columnist. Through these writings Gus Dur's idea of thinking began to receive much attention.

In 1974 Gus Dur was asked by his uncle, KH Yusuf Hasyim, to assist in Pesantren Tebu Ireng Jombang as a secretary. From here Gus Dur start often get invited to be a resource person on a number of religious discussion fora, whether in local and abroad. Furthermore, Gus Dur was involved in the activities of NGOs. First in LP3ES with Dawam Rahardjo, Aswab Mahasin and Adi Sasono in the development of Pesantren project, then Gus Dur founded P3M driven by LP3ES.

In 1979, Gus Dur moved to Jakarta. At first he pioneered Pesantren Ciganjur. Here Gus Dur was involved in a serious discussion and debate about religious issues, social and political circles with various inter-faith, ethnicity and discipline. Gus Dur was more serious in writing and wrestling with his world, both in the field of culture, politics, and Islamic thought. His career was deemed `deviant`, in his capacity as a religious leader as well as NU-board and invited scorn when he became chairman of the Jakarta Arts Council (DKJ) in 1983. He also became chairman of the jury in the Festival Film Indonesia (FFI) in 1986, 1987.

In 1984, Gus Dur was elected by acclamation by a team of ahl al-hall wa `aqdi chaired by KH As`ad Syamsul Arifin for the general chairman position in the 27th conference of NU in Situbondo. The position is re-affirmed at the 28th conference on pesantren Krapyak Yogyakarta (1989), and conferences in Cipasung West Java (1994).

Wahid sought dialogue and conciliation with ethnic separatists in Aceh and Papua. And he visited East Timor to apologize for Indonesian atrocities there and tried unsuccessfully to put in place a truth commission. He also cracked down on Islamist extremists in 2000 after terrorist bombings killed 18 people in Indonesia. As president, Wahid challenged traditional power centers. He worked to roll back the role of the military in political life and to decentralize power to Indonesia's far-flung provinces.

But his administration was characterized by unpredictable cabinet reshuffles and allegations of nepotism. President Wahid's political skills were not highly regarded. He was criticized for his erratic leadership style and was removed from office by the national assembly in 2001 amid unproven allegations of corruption and incompetence. The military’s inconsistent support of Wahid resulted in his impeachment as President through a controversial Special Session of the Assembly. Wahid initially attempted to remain in power by declaring a state of emergency but eventually stepped down. He denied any wrongdoing and was never tried on criminal charges. The role of the military in blocking Wahid’s efforts to defend his position by imposing a state emergency through a Presidential Decree at that time was very influential. The military’s stance opened the way for Megawati Soekarnoputri to replace Wahid. His presidency wreaked havoc with attempts to calm the country after the downfall of disgraced President Suharto in 1998.

In June 2002, Tommy Suharto said he bribed two associates of Indonesia's former President Abdurrahman Wahid to make his legal problems go away. Mr. Suharto, the son of another former Indonesian president, made the comments in testimony at his trial for the murder of a Supreme Court judge. He was accused of paying hit men in July 2000 to kill the judge who sentenced him to prison. Tommy Suharto said he met with Indonesia's former President Abdurrahman Wahid twice to seek a pardon in October, 2000, after he was sentenced to 18 months in prison on corruption charges. Wahid turned down Mr. Suharto's request. But Mr. Suharto said he later gave $1.7 million to two of Wahid's associates in exchange for assistance with his legal problems.

In May 2004 the former Indonesian president sued the country's election commission for more than $100 million for barring him from this year's presidential elections. Former President Abdurrahman Wahid had a number of strokes and had very little vision left. He failed a health test for prospective candidates for July's presidential race.

He remained popular among some sections of society for his Islamic scholarship and family connections to the founder of Indonesia's largest Islamic organization, Nahadlatul Ulama. In the 2004 legislative elections, his party won more than 10 percent of the vote. His younger brother, Salahuddin, was the vice-president candidate for the country's biggest political party, Golkar.

Abdurrahman Wahid died in the age of 69 on December 30, 2009 at 18:40 pm in Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital Jakarta, after a long struggle with strokes, diabetes and near blindness. He was preceded by former Vice President Baharudin Jusuf Habibie, who became president for little more than a year after Suharto resigned. Habibie says President Wahid was a key figure in Indonesia's transition to democracy. He said Wahid promoted pluralism as the key to peace and prosperity in Indonesia.

Political commentator Wimar Witoelar was President Wahid's chief presidential spokesman. He said Wahid established national values of tolerance and equality that today define democracy in Indonesia. "They have lived on. They have lived on," said Witoelar. "The things we are praised now for being, … the anti-corruption going on stream, the military which is taking a back seat into politics, the notion that Chinese and other minorities are equal, their holidays being celebrated, the multi-religiosity, the religious pluralism in which you can see fantastic Christmas carols in the malls of Jakarta are all an offspring of breakthroughs he did."