Gus Dur: Never Relate Disaster to Power

Jakarta, NU Online
Chairman of the Advisory Board of the National Awakening Party (PKB) KH Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid calls on all national elements to be optimistic and rational in facing the recent disaster. It should not be viewed from the deep sense of mystics.

“Indonesia is vulnerable of disaster. And we Indonesians should be ready to face it in accordance with rational speculation. Never relate it to one’s power,” Gus Dur said in a DPP PKB’s charity concert to both Yogyakarta and Central Java’s aftermath, held in Jakarta Art Building, Thursday (29/6).

Gus Dur said, Indonesian people should have such a conviction to survive from any threatening disaster. For him, Indonesia’s geographical location is vulnerable of earthquake and we need to think on how to overcome it. The government should expectedly calculate Indonesia’s position factor in undertaking its all development programs. “There should be rational steps,” Gus Dur said.

The Thursday’s concert, according to Andi M Ramli, chief of the organizing committee of PKB’s charity concert, constituted part of PKB’s concern upon the earthquake hit Yogyakarta and Central Java.  Hopefully the collected aid amounted to Rp. 300 million will be distributed to Saturday’s victims on 9 July, coincided with Bantul’s Tabligh Akbar in Yogyakarta.

The concert was attended by DPP PKB’s practitioners and was made lively with Jakarta’s artists such as Rieke Dyah Pitaloka, Franky Sahilatua, and sukilah, together with the rhythm of Ki Ageng Ganjur Music, led by Ngatawi El-Zastrouw. (nam)