Abdurrahman Wahid
Abdurrahman Wahid, more colloquially known as Gus Dur, was an Indonesian politician and Islamic religious leader who served as the fourth president of Indonesia, from his election in 1999 until he was removed from office in 2001. A long time leader within the Nahdlatul Ulama organization, he was the founder of the National Awakening Party. He also received the Ramon Magsaysay Award for his services to democratization and human rights in Indonesia. He was the son of former Minister of Religious Affairs Wahid Hasyim, and the grandson of Nahdatul Ulama founder Hasyim Asy'ari. Due to a visual impairment caused by glaucoma, he was blind in the left eye and roughly 80% blind in his right eye. He was the first president of Indonesia to have had physical disabilities.
Wahid was instrumental in lifting the ban on Chinese New Year. Until 1998, the spiritual practice to celebrate the Chinese New Year by Chinese families was restricted specifically only inside of Chinese community centers, a restriction made by the New Order government through Presidential Instruction No. 14 of 1967 signed by Suharto.
Wahid was instrumental in lifting the ban on Chinese New Year. Until 1998, the spiritual practice to celebrate the Chinese New Year by Chinese families was restricted specifically only inside of Chinese community centers, a restriction made by the New Order government through Presidential Instruction No. 14 of 1967 signed by Suharto.
