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Gus Dur OKs to hold second Ciganjur meeting

Kamis, 26 Februari 2009 | 21:14 WIB

Jakarta, NU Online
Former President KH Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid who previously rejected the second Ciganjur meeting eventually agreed to attend it.

Zanubah Arifah "Yenny Wahid" Chafsoh who is also Gus Dur's daughter made the remarks following a meeting between Gus Dur and figures of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle's Advisory Board Taufiq Kiemas (chairman) and Pramono Anung (secretary general) at the Nahdlatul Ulama headquarters here Thursday.<>

"The second Ciganjur episode is in principle not a problem. Hence Gus Dur highly welcomed it," Yenny said.

Earlier, Gus Dur himself rejected a second Ciganjur meeting, saying it was useless and promising not to attend it.

"Frankly speaking I have no interest at all. It's useless," Gus Dur said last month.

However, Yenny said that Gus Dur's reluctance had to do with technical matters. Gus Dur disagreed  if the meeting had to be held in his house like the first meeting in 1998.

The first Ciganjur meeting was organized on November 10, 1998. Also present at that time were Megawati Soekarnoputri, Amien Rais, Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X and Gus Dur as the host.

In the meeting in addition to hoping accelerated political reforms in Indonesia, the four leaders also sought such consensus on the major issues facing the nation. (rif)