Gus Dur supports Rizal Ramli for president

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Mon, 09/22/2008 4:36 PM  |  National

Former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid met with his former finance minister Rizal Ramli on Monday, saying he would support Rizal's ambition to become president.

"I support fully him if I cannot become a presidential candidate," Gus Dur said, as quoted by Antara, after meeting with Rizal at his office at Nahdlatul Ulama in Jakarta.

Earlier, however, Gus Dur indicated that he supported the former justice minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra.

After meeting Yusril, Gus Dur, a patron of the National Awakening Party, said he had to support other candidates, and the one who was closest to him was Yusril.

Rizal, chairman of the Indonesian Rise Committee (KBI), said that he visited Gus Dur as part of what he called a "Democracy Tour" to strengthen democratic forces in the country.

Last week, Rizal visited Taufik Kiemas, the husband of former president Megawati Soekarnoputri and chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle.

Next, Rizal will meet with politician Amien Rais from the National Mandate Party and human rights activist and lawyer Adnan Buyung Nasution.

But many have speculated that Rizal's "Democracy Tour" is a way to gather political supports following the police's move to name him a suspect for allegedly backing a student rally in June against the fuel price hike, which led to a riot.

The police said they had enough evidence to show that Rizal financially backed the violent rally. (rid)
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Fiz Ramdhani (not verified) — Tue, 09/23/2008 - 4:19am

I seriously don't get why people still talk about Aburrahman Wahid. With all due respect, the man has lost his sense. It's very clear hear that he would just change his mind and way of thinking in a matter of seconds. The man has no principal that he could hold to himself. If he got accepted just even as a nominee for next year's presidential election. People -- in general -- has totally lose their mind.

And second, I agree with the speculation at the paragraphs' end that it's definitely clear that he's trying to gain political supports. That is of course common and a normal and it also does not break any rules. However, what sad about that is the fact that he came upon the wrong people.

No offence... It's just a comment.

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