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Wahid Says Preparing High-Profile Arrests, Confident Of Survival
PASURUAN, Indonesia, Feb 9 (News Agencies) - Embattled Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid traveled to his political stronghold of East Java Friday and told supporters to stop violent protests in his defense because he was confident efforts to impeach him would flop.
Wahid also told a crowd of some 2,000 cheering fanatical followers in the al-Anwar mosque in this seaside town that he was preparing to arrest 10 major figures in Jakarta.
"In the next three weeks at least 10 people will be arrested and they are big people, not little fish," Wahid said. He gave no indication of who the 10 were.
"The situation is now moving in my favor, so further demonstrations would be counter counterproductive," he said.
But in Jakarta and two other Indonesian cities, thousands of students took to the streets calling for the president to step down.
The Jakarta protestors, some 3,000 strong, marched in a huge procession down a main avenue towards the presidential palace chanting "Wahid resign!" before dispersing peacefully around dusk.
Similar mass anti-Wahid student protests took place in Bengkulu in the south of Sumatra island and in the central Javanese city of Semarang.
The Jakarta stock market nose-dived 3.0% to close down 12.862 points at 427.914, mainly on jitters over the tense political tug-of-war, dealers said.
And 18 of the country's leading economists issued a joint call for Wahid to resign, saying it would be the "quickest and least costly" way to end the crisis.
But in Pasuruan, and later in the East Java capital of Surabaya, surrounded by adoring fanatical followers in paramilitary uniforms and dark glasses, Wahid was joking, confident and even ebullient, a reporter said.
Wahid said they should cool the fury that has seen them attacking and burning the offices of the opposition Golkar party throughout East Java, vowing to defend him with the "last drop" of their blood.
"I'm happy you are ready to die bravely, but I prefer that you live bravely."
"Even if Golkar does not respect us ... it's better we stick to the law, and we will win in the end, and we will prevail in the next election," Wahid said.
He made no mention of a suggestion by the country's Supreme Advisory Council - leaked to the press Friday - that he remain head of state, but hand all real power to his Vice President Megawati Sukarnopurti.
Wahid was greeted in Pasuruan by a cheering crowd shouting: "God is great," as thousands of paramilitary guards, in brown and green military fatigues and black berets from the mass Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) that Wahid once led, put on a show of force.
Red and white national flags flew in front of homes and a huge green banner, hung across the road on the outskirts of the town, read: "Amien, Akbar traitors."
Akbar Tanjung and Amien Rais, leaders of the upper and lower houses of the national parliament in Jakarta, are blamed by the paramilitary NU "Banser" for trying to impeach Wahid, over two financial scandals.
A Golkar party office about seven kilometers (4.3 miles) outside town was deserted - partially burned, its windows smashed.
The paramilitary guards talked of war, and threatened bloodshed throughout the country if Wahid should fall.
"This is only the beginning," Banser guard Muhammad Toyibi said, referring to the past week's attacks on Golkar offices.
Saudiq Umar, a religious teacher, said Banser had three ultimatums.
"First the [parliamentary] memorandum [censure] must be withdrawn, secondly Golkar and all ... cronies must be dissolved, and attempts to call a special [impeachment] session must be dropped," he said.
"If Gus Dur is toppled, this country will be destroyed, especially East Java, especially Pasuruan."
Said Banser guard Muhammad Toyibi: "We are ready to die for Gus Dur. We will defend him with the last drop of our blood."
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