Between Gus Dur and An Itchy Boil

Haul Gus Dur is an annual commemoration held by the followers of Gus Dur throughout Indonesia. The followers in different areas have their own program to commemorate the death of KH. Abdurrahman Wahid who was the former 4^thpresident of the Republic of Indonesia.

Particularly in Ciganjur, Gus Dur's 9^th Haul was held last Friday (21/12) with the theme "What is more important than politics is humanity". The theme is expected to ease tension in the political process that is currently underway.

Responding to the theme of the haul event, Jumaldi Alfi, one of the artists present, likened the current political situation in Indonesia to a boil that is itching, "We must let the boil dry, not to break it prematurely. It itches, but don't scratch it. Each of us must hold back, "explained Jumaldi.

'The artist, who came from Yogyakarta to attend the haul event, and was once one of Artprice's 2008-2009 world's best-selling painters also commented on Gus Dur: "Speaking of Gus Dur, I always remember his humor and humanity and his partiality to the impoverished.'

Someone must hold back. The late Abdurrahman had become a role model of peace by holding NU masses consisting of people that wanted to come to the palace to defend his position as president in 2001. "There is no position in this world that needs to be maintained desperately. Let me step down, avoid bloodshed," he said.

Besides Jumaldi Alfi, there are four other artists who came to the haul, namely Nasirun, Hanafi, Ahmad Shohib, and Isa Perkasa. In the evening, the five of them painted simultaneously on a long canvas accompanied by a prayer sung by Nassar Fahad Ahmad Sungkar.

The paintings produced by these five artists are a form of their response to Gus Dur's values of unity, humanity, justice, equality, liberation, simplicity, brotherhood, knighthood and local wisdom.

Gus Dur is a figure of pluralism known for his great acceptance of diversity. This value is what we really need to maintain and imitate, especially in responding to the political year.

As the 9^th Chairperson of the Haul Gus Dur Committee, Alissa Wahid, stated, "We must give a firm message to the presidential candidates, legislative candidates, and the wider public that politics is not a goal but a means to uphold the noble values of humanity. Not the other way around. This is the main message of the late Gus Dur," she stressed.

A number of figures who will attend the haul include the Caregiver of the Al-Anwar Sarang Islamic Boarding School, Rembang, Central Java KH Maemun Zubair, Religious Leader and Caregiver of religious gatherings in Depok City Habib Abu Bakar Al-Attas, former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Mahfud M.D., artist Ebiet G. Ade , literary and religious figures from Madura KH Dzawawi Imron, female writer Tuti Herati Nurhadi, journalist Aritides Katoppo, and a number of politicians and government officials such as Luhut Panjaitan as Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs, Minister of Religious Affairs Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono and others.

By: Ester Pandiangan