Word: wahid
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...Wahid is from a distinguished family of Muslim leaders. Known for his mischievous wit, the multilingual scholar speaks English and Arabic fluently. He studied in Iraq and Egypt, and heads the 30 million-strong Nahdlatul Ulama, a nationwide association that runs traditional Islamic schools. But he also is a lover of Western literature and classical music, has a long record of opposing religious extremism and speaking out on behalf of the Christian and Chinese minorities in Indonesia and has even recommended opening diplomatic relations with Israel--much to the fury of more conservative Islamic groups. "Gus Dur is a pluralist...
...immense respect Wahid commands from across the political spectrum that allowed him to seize the presidency. He knew the incumbent, B.J. Habibie, was too unpopular to be re-elected, but he also knew that his former ally Megawati was not going to be able to get enough votes in the assembly to win. Megawati's P.D.I. party had won the single largest share of the vote in June's national elections. But subsequently the former housewife failed to reach out to other parties to guarantee herself a majority in the assembly. Muslim parties began to rail against the prospect...
...supporters, threatened to degenerate into a head-on confrontation with Islamic parties. "Megawati's followers were talking about revolution, while some of Habibie's [Muslim] followers were talking about a jihad," says Dewi Fortuna Anwar, a senior adviser to Habibie. A compromise had to be found, and Wahid was its vehicle. "He plays high-class politics beautifully--with both friends and foes," says Ahmad Suhelmi, lecturer in politics at the University of Indonesia. Wahid's first task will be to reconvert Megawati from a foe back into a friend...
Communication between Wahid and Megawati will become vital in the months ahead, as a new Cabinet is chosen and the political odd couple set about governing the country. "Because Gus cannot read documents, the question is who will control the flow of information to him," says Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, a former Cabinet minister. "There will be fierce competition over who is going to whisper in his ear." Or his mobile phone...
...even greater concern is Wahid's fragile health. He suffered a stroke in 1998 that left him unable to walk unaided. "We need a leader who can unite the nation, and he has the capacity," says Emil Salim, a respected former Finance Minister. "But Gus Dur is not a healthy man." Should he die or become incapacitated, Megawati would take over as President for the remainder of his five-year term--something that could spark renewed opposition from Muslim parties, particularly if it happened before she had time to mend some political fences...