House factions propose "national hero" title for late Gus Dur

Jakarta, NU Online
A number of party factions in the House of Representatives (DPR) want the House to formally propose to the government to confer the title of "national hero" on the late former president Abudurrahman Wahid or Gus Dur.

The proposal was voiced by a  number of legislators at the first House plenary session in the new year on Monday. <>

Tjahjo Kumolo, chairman  of the Indonesian Democracy Party-Struggle (PDI-P) faction, proposed to House leadership to schedule a House plenary session to endorse a motion addressed to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to give the title to Gus Dur. 

The motion should then be conveyed to the government at a consultative meeting between the House leadership and the president. 

"After all, President Yudhoyono had already indicated he would readily accommodate such a proposal," Tjahjo was quoted by Antara news agency as saying.

Nurul Arifin, a member of the Golkar faction, said Gus Dur was a "teacher of the nation" and just on account of this fact alone, Gus Dur deserved the title.

House Deputy Speaker Priyo Budi Santoso said the aspiration of House members as well as many components of the public  to name Gus Dur a national hero was understandable.

The House leadership would consider taking  steps to follow up the proposal, Priyo said but he also pointed out that proposals for elevating persons to national hero status had to be processed through certain procedures stipulated by law.

Before becoming the country's fourth president, Gus Dur was known as founder of the Nation's Awakening Party  (PKB). He died of illness at Jakarta's  Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital on Wednesday (Dec.3) at  18.45 West Indonesian Time and was buried at his family's graveyard in Jombang, East Java, on Thursday (Dec 31).

As a former president, Gus Dur was already honored with the highest medals of merit by the state. (dar)