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Gus Dur would have loudly condemned recent acts of intolerance: Activist
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Artists carry a puppet representation of the late former president Abdurrahman 'Gus Dur' Wahid during an exhibition held in commemoration of the Muslim cleric at Bentara Budaya Yogyakarta on July 26, 2015. (JP/Tarko Sudiarno)
F
ormer president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, known as a supporter of pluralism, would have been at the forefront of those condemning recent intolerant acts in the country if he were still alive today, a human rights activist said on Friday.
Hendardi, chairman of human rights organization the Setara Institute, said Gus Dur had contributed a great deal to building up Indonesian pluralism and his vision in this field meant that he deserved to be called a "humanitarian figure".
"Seeing developments in Indonesia recently, Gus Dur would have loudly condemned intolerance, identity politics and all the things that threaten Indonesian diversity," Hendardi said in a statement on Friday.
(Read also: When Gus Dur's 'Indonesian Islam' goes down the drain)
Gus Dur was widely respected for his policy of protecting minority groups. Taking power in 1999, Gus Dur, for example, issued a regulation one year later declaring Confucianism, a religion adhered to by many Chinese-Indonesians, as a religion recognized by the state.
Gus Dur was impeached in 2001 and he died in late 2009.
The anniversary of his death is remembered every year.
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is scheduled to attend the anniversary of Gus Dur’s death on Friday in Ciganjur, South Jakarta.
"Although he is no longer able to speak, Gus Dur's teachings are in the hearts of many who struggle to maintain Indonesia's diversity," Hendardi said. (jun)
