Abdurrahman Wahid

Abdurrahman Wahid, also known as Gus Dur, was an Indonesian politician and Islamic religious leader who served as the third president of Indonesia from 1999 to 2001. He was the leader of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the largest Islamic organization in Indonesia, and the founder of the National Awakening Party (PKB). He was elected as president by the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) after the fall of Suharto's authoritarian regime in 1998. He was the first democratically elected president in Indonesia's history and the first president to be impeached. He initiated various reforms to promote democracy, human rights, pluralism, and decentralization. He also supported the independence of East Timor and the resolution of conflicts in Aceh and Papua. He was known for his moderate and tolerant views on Islam and his humorous and eccentric personality. He died in 2009 at the age of 69. He is regarded as a national hero and a symbol of Indonesian reform by many Indonesians.