Ex-police chief backs Bimantoro<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid's efforts to seek
\nmoral support from former National Police chief Hugeng Iman
\nSantosa apparently proved fruitless when, during an almost-one-
\nhour meeting between the two here on Saturday, Hugeng said that
\nhe saw no reason to fire Gen. Surojo Bimantoro.<\/p>\n
The meeting between Abdurrahman and Hugeng took place at the
\nlatter's residence in Depok, some 30 kilometers south of here,
\nwhen Abdurrahman visited Hugeng, who was known for his integrity
\nwhen heading the National Police from 1968 to 1971.<\/p>\n
Hugeng became a role model for police officers, and observers
\nsaid that Hugeng's opinion should not be mistrusted.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman did not speak to reporters after the meeting, but
\nas he left Hugeng's residence, Hugeng told reporters that
\n\"Bimantoro is a good police officer\".<\/p>\n
\"I see no reasons to dismiss him from his (National Police
\nchief) post. So he must go forward,\" the aging Hugeng said,
\nciting Bimantoro's achievements in, among other things, narcotic-
\nrelated cases.<\/p>\n
The President's decision to fire Bimantoro and appoint Comr.
\nGen. Chaeruddin Ismail to take command of the day-to-day
\nactivities of the National Police has drawn controversy among the
\npublic and within the police force.<\/p>\n
The President suspended Bimantoro earlier this month and later
\nrepealed the decree on suspension before issuing another decree
\nto honorably dismiss Bimantoro as National Police chief.<\/p>\n
Many police officers have pledged their support for Bimantoro,
\nwho had ignored the President's order to hand over his command
\nbaton.<\/p>\n
Last Monday, 150 middle-ranking officers made rebellious
\nstatements against Bimantoro, who then took a 10-day leave
\nstarting on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Bimantoro's defiance has apparently damaged the President's
\npopularity, which plummeted further after all political parties
\nexcept his own turned down his invitation to meet in Bogor last
\nMonday.<\/p>\n
The schedule<\/p>\n
The President's visit to Hugeng's residence on Saturday
\nsurprised some as he had been expected to lead the official
\nceremony of the installment of newly appointed Attorney General
\nMarsillam Simanjuntak and Minister of Justice and Human Rights
\nMahfud MD.<\/p>\n
The President was also scheduled to meet with middle-ranking
\npolice officers at 11 a.m. on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Later on Saturday, the President denied that he had met with
\nthe police officers who had demanded that Bimantoro abide by the
\nPresident's instruction.<\/p>\n
\"No, a meeting has never happened,\" Gus Dur said at a door-
\nstop news conference after chairing a weekly meeting of his
\nNational Awakening Party (PKB) at its headquarters in South
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Party sources say, however, that the President did meet with
\nthe police officers.<\/p>\n
Presidential spokesman Wahyu Muryadi said the meeting had been
\npostponed pending an appropriate time for the President.<\/p>\n
Wahyu also claimed on Thursday that the President would attend
\nthe official installation of Marsillam and Mahfud on Saturday.
\n(sur\/tso)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ex-police-chief-backs-bimantoro-1447893297",
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