Muslims hit streets for embattled Wahid

Surabaya is the capital of East Java, the heartland of NU, which Wahid once led and where his popularity is strong. As the leading Islamic group in the world’s biggest Muslim nation, NU plays a key political and social role. The censure is the first step towards possible impeachment of Indonesia’s first democratically-elected President.

It caps mounting frustration over Wahid’s erratic rule which has largely failed to pull Indonesia out of years of political and economic turmoil or end communal bloodshed. But most analysts expect him to survive for now because of the lack of a credible alternative, the length and complexity of impeachment and the fear of violence in the streets.

However, the censure is also seen as a devastating blow to his legitimacy and few expect him to see out his five-year term, due to end in 2004. Wahid has refused calls to quit and says he still has the loyalty of Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri, who heads the country’s largest party and whose support is crucial.

Megawati herself has remained silent since the censure. On Sunday, Wahid said he could not step down when Indonesia was in such strife. “I love this country so much. It is impossible for me to leave this country when it is in trouble,†the detik.com news portal quoted him telling the Jakarta Arts Council at his lavish palace retreat in the hillside town of Bogor, South of Jakarta.

In Indonesia people targeted by demonstrations often claim protesters have been paid by their opponents to turn up.

Wahid was dealt another blow on Saturday when Administrative Reform Minister Ryaas Rasyid quit over a row about the technical details of how to implement controversial devolution of political and economic power to the country’s restive regions. Although the resignation has nothing to do with the censure, its timing underlines the growing dissatisfaction with his leadership.