THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES building in Senayan, Central Jakarta, was almost turned into a Padang Kurusetra (battlefield) during the last two weeks. Members of groups supporting and opposing President Abdurrahman ‘Gus Dur’ Wahid nearly clashed openly and used the forecourt of the building as an arena to flex their muscles.

Clashes weren’t far off as the two differing groups hold different aspirations. The anti-Abdurrahman body