Free Legal Status, MPR Proposes Gus Dur To Be A National Hero

Gus Dur launched My Islamic Book, Your Islam, Our Islam, which is a collection of 100 writings on September 21, 2006. (Special)

JAKARTA - The MPR RI proposed the awarding of the title of National Hero to the 4th President of the Republic of Indonesia Abdurrahman Wahid or Gus Dur after the repeal of the MPR Decree (TAP) Number II/MPR/2001 concerning the Accountability of the President of the Republic of Indonesia.

With this revocation, Gus Dur has been free to seek legal status on corruption charges until he was forcibly removed in 2001.

"In principle, the common sense of the head of state must run in one nation and state. If the others are given the title of hero, naturally the head of state is given the award. And let alone various things related to them, those who block it have been resolved, the law is resolved," said Deputy Chairperson of the MPR from the PKS faction, Hidayat Nur Wahid at the Nusantara V MPR RI Building, Senayan, Jakarta, Sunday, September 29.

Then, continued HNW, the TAP MPR can be used as an excuse not to be given a letter of recommendation as a national hero. Like the title given to the first President of the Republic of Indonesia, Soekarno through the presidential decree issued by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) in 2012.

"For example, Bung Karno's case, Mr. SBY has issued a presidential decree about Bung Karno as a national hero in 2012. That means that it is only natural that the heads of state then there is no problem," explained HNW.

"Moreover, like Gus Dur, this TAP was revoked because it was in the applicable category and did not happen again. It was finished," he added.

With the revocation of the TAP MPR, continued HNW, Gus Dur's good name, dignity will be cleaned or restored. Therefore, Gus Dur deserves to be recommended as a national hero as mentioned by the Chairman of the MPR RI Bang Soesatyo.

"MPR is of the opinion in the spirit of reconciliation, respecting national figures who are meritorious in awarding national heroes," concluded HNW.