Bogor,     - A Bogor Interfaith Social Agency (Basolia) figure, KH Zaenal Abidin, said that the death of KH Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid brought sorrow for all religious followers and national elements.

     "All religious followers and all elements of the nation and even the international community really lost him because so far he was the only pluralist figure acceptable by all elements," said Zaenal Abidin in Bogor, Saturday.

     The people in Bogor, West Java, still felt the deep loss following the death of the fourth president of the country, he said.

     How strong Gus Dur's influence is could be seen from the nation's appreciation for him. As soon as the news about his death broke people spontaneously did 'takjiah' (paying a condolence visit).

     Thousands of people had come to pay last respects while his body was still at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, laid to rest in his residence at Ciganjur, South Jakarta, and at 'Tebuireng' boarding school at Jombang, East Java.

     Abidin said that all religious followers had prayed for him in  mosques as well as in churches, shrines, temples and pagodas.

     "As I know Gus Dur has been the only figure whose death had drawns prayers from six different religious followers showing how he had given great services that could be by the nation and all elements," Abidin said.

     Prayers for Gus Dur still continued being conducted not only by members of the Nahdlatul Ulama (one of Indonesia's largest Islamic organization, Gus Dur also once led) but also by 'Muhammadiyah' members and other groupings. Even the Syi'ah community members often  considered different from the Sunni Muslims also sent prayers to Gus Dur.

     Prayers for Gus Dur are reverberating across the country from from Sabang in the west  to Papua in the east. Millions of people from different religions conducted rituals in honor of Gus Dur.

     Residents of Aceh and Papua who saw conflicts decades ago also mourned his death.

     According to the Governor of Aceh, Irwandi Yusuf, Gus Dur was the one who opened the way for peace overcoming humanitarian crisis in Aceh. As for the people of Papua he was the one who had revived the name 'Papua' to replace 'Irian Jaya' for the region.

     Abidin further said he hoped honor for Gus Dur would not last  just for several days after his death but must be substantially implemented by continuing his struggle to build a tolerant, pluralistic and democratic country.

     "The biggest respect for Gus Dur's service is continuing his great ambition. It is a must because it is impossible to build this great country partially by ignoring its diversity," he said.

-Antara, 03 January 2010-