You We Can Live The Way Gus Dur Sees: That's How It's Troubled

JAKARTA - "That's why it's so hard!" A simple sentence but very powerful. That sentence stuck to one person: Abdurrahman Wahid or Gus Dur. The fourth president of the Republic of Indonesia is also known as the Father of Indonesian Pluralism. Right, indeed. There is no need to bother this nation if every child sees it the way Gus Dur sees it.

Gus Dur would be 81 years old if he were still around today. The differences that often 'complicate' state life today were able to be well maintained by Gus Dur. He is not only good at seeing differences, but also good at practicing the way of life in diversity. In the midst of today's rampant identity conflicts, differences that should be wealth and power are often fused to become sources of conflict.

Surya Adi Sahfutra explained the idea of pluralism in Gus Dur's head in Gus Dur's journal Ideas for Religious Pluralism for Equality and Harmony. He explained that Gus Dur emphasized pluralism on the view of openness to find the truth anywhere. And what is special, that view must be actualized in actions and thoughts.

That's why Gus Dur became the president most accepted by various groups in Indonesia. Gus Dur's way of establishing relationships regardless of ethnic or religious exclusivism is an extraordinary feature. Although known as a Muslim figure, Gus Dur is known as a figure who is able to be flexible in building social relations with non-Muslim figures.

He is friends with many priests, priests, various other religious figures, both from Buddhism, Hinduism, and even Confucianism. In Gus Dur's eyes, human relations are very important. He is a visionary who understands very well that today -- as long as Gus Dur is alive -- until the days to come is an era that requires everyone to interact with others.

The lines of distinction between religious and ethnic groups must be erased. Citing the Discourse on Religious Pluralism, Thoughts of Muslim and Christian Figures in Indonesia by Zainul Fuad, it is explained how Gus Dur also often quotes a verse from the Koran, namely surah al Hujarat verse 13, the point of which is: In fact, human differences are God's will to know each other. .

With all that thought, Gus Dur was very sensitive to the fate of minorities. One of the minority groups who felt Gus Dur's justice the most was the Chinese group. Judging from the policies of the New Order, there is a comprehensive assimilation policy. At that time, President Soeharto himself stated that Indonesian citizens of Chinese descent should immediately integrate and assimilate into Indonesian society.

Unfortunately, Suharto's practice is different from theory. Assimilation is often contradictory, and even feels inclined to be anti-assimilation in policy implementation. Under Suharto, instead of assimilation, what happened was sorting. Instead of the unity of ethnic Chinese and Indonesians or one religion with another, the policy actually separated groups into various communities. Exclusivity failed to disburse.

On January 17, 2000, Gus Dur revoked Presidential Instruction (Inpres) No. 14/1967 on Chinese Religion, Beliefs and Customs. The Presidential Instruction ordered that the celebration of religious parties or ethnic Chinese customs be carried out in a family environment and not conspicuous in public.

After the Presidential Instruction was revoked, the Chinese were able to celebrate the Lunar New Year in a lively and open manner. Chinese New Year was only made a national holiday in 2003 under the government of President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

When revoking the Presidential Instruction, Gus Dur emphasized that the ethnic Chinese in Indonesia are part of the Indonesian nation. Therefore, they also have the same rights as Indonesian citizens in general.

"They are Indonesians. They should not be isolated, only given one place. If someone criticizes them for not being active in society, it is because they are not given the opportunity," said Gus Dur.

"The best way, our nation must open all doors of life for the Chinese so that they can be fully demanded to become Indonesians," he added.

Not only ethnic Chinese. Gus Dur also has a special place in the hearts of the Papuan people. After two months and ten days of being sworn in as president, Gus Dur visited Irian Jaya, which has now become Papua. At that time, Gus Dur wanted to have a dialogue with the people of Irian Jaya.

All the complaints of the people at that time were accepted by Gus Dur. Even the desire of the people of Irian Jaya to be independent from Indonesia. After the dialogue, Gus Dur finally returned the name Irian Jaya to Papua. During the New Order, the name Papua was taboo because it was synonymous with the Free Papua Movement (OPM).

Gus Dur continues to provide support for the Papuan people. When the Papuan People's Congress II was protested, Gus Dur was at the forefront of supporting the event to continue. Gus Dur even helped by providing financial assistance.

Another policy that was considered unusual by many at that time was when Gus Dur allowed the Morning Star flag to be flown in Papua. Although it can only be flown under the red and white flag, Gus Dur's policy remains controversial. For many people at that time, the Morning Star flag was a symbol of separatism. However, Gus Dur had a different view. He firmly called the Morning Star flag as a cultural symbol.