Gus Dur dismisses Gen. Rusdihardjo<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid dismissed National
\nPolice chief Gen. Rusdihardjo on Monday, who he appointed to the
\nposition nine months ago.<\/p>\n
The President did not clearly explain the firing but said: \"In
\ngeneral, the situation requires the replacement of the National
\nPolice chief.\"<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman appointed Rusdihardjo's deputy, Comr. Gen.
\nBimantoro, to temporarily take on the job, pending consultation
\nbetween himself and the House of Representatives (DPR).<\/p>\n
The President acknowledged that People's Consultative Assembly
\n(MPR) Decree No. VII, issued in August, states that the
\nappointment and replacement of the National Police chief requires
\nthe approval of the House.<\/p>\n
Because of that, the President said he had only named
\nBimantoro as acting police chief.<\/p>\n
\"When carrying out the duties of the National Police chief,
\nthe National Police deputy chief is assigned for the position
\nuntil the appointment of a new National Police chief gets
\napproval from the DPR,\" Abdurrahman said at a media briefing.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman was accompanied by Cabinet Secretary Marsilam
\nSimanjuntak and Military Secretary Rear Marshal Budhy Santoso.<\/p>\n
Marsilam said the President's decision was made through a
\ndecree dated Sept. 18. He did not mention its number.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman summoned Rusdihardjo and Bimantoro to Merdeka
\nPalace on Sunday evening and informed them about his decision.<\/p>\n
Rusdihardjo returned to Jakarta on Sunday afternoon, after
\naccompanying Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri on a four-day
\ntrip to Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Irian Jaya.<\/p>\n
The President refused to reply when a journalist asked whether
\nRusdihardjo's firing was in connection with the police's failure
\nto catch the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) bombers, and to realize
\nhis orders to arrest former president Soeharto's son \"Tommy\"
\nHutomo Mandala Putra over his alleged role in the attack.<\/p>\n
Last Wednesday's stock exchange bombing, in which at least 11
\npeople died, led to widespread calls for Rusdihardjo and Jakarta
\nPolice chief Insp. Gen. Nurfaizi to resign for their failure to
\nmaintain security and arrest the masterminds behind a number of
\nrecent blasts in the capital.<\/p>\n
Born in Solo, Central Java, on July 7, 1945, Rusdihardjo has
\npassed the retirement age of 55.<\/p>\n
Speaking to journalists in Port Moresby, PNG, on Saturday,
\nRusdihardjo described the order to arrest Tommy as the
\nPresident's \"strong wish\".<\/p>\n
Rusdihardjo held a media conference on Monday after making a
\nshort visit to the Police Staff College (PTIK) in South Jakarta.
\nHe read a short prepared speech.<\/p>\n
\"I accept this decision with a big heart and sincerity because
\nthis is (one of) the prerogatives of the President that should be
\nupheld,\" Rusdihardjo said.<\/p>\n
The former senior police detective refused to comment further
\non his dismissal.<\/p>\n
\"I have tried with my utmost strength and tried to do my best
\n(as police chief),\" Rusdihardjo said.<\/p>\n
He left the briefing in a hurry.<\/p>\n
Tyasno<\/p>\n
President Abdurrahman said he had met with Vice President
\nMegawati and National Military (TNI) chief Adm. Widodo A.S. and
\ntold them about Rusdihardjo's dismissal.<\/p>\n
He assured the admiral he would remain TNI chief.<\/p>\n
\"There is no plan as yet,\" he said when asked about Widodo's
\npossible substitution.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, sources close to the President said Abdurrahman was
\nset to replace Army chief Gen. Tyasno Sudarto.<\/p>\n
One of the sources, who holds a senior position in the
\ngovernment, said Abdurrahman would soon issue a presidential
\ndecree dismissing Tyasno.<\/p>\n
\"Gus Dur has decided to replace Tyasno, although we still do
\nnot know about his successor,\" he told The Jakarta Post on Monday
\nevening.<\/p>\n
However, he mentioned Tyasno's deputy Lt. Gen. Endriartono
\nSutarto and Indonesian Military (TNI) chief of Territorial
\nAffairs Lt. Gen. Agus Widjojo as strong candidates for the job.<\/p>\n
Army spokesman Brig. Gen. F.X. Bachtiar denied the reports
\nhowever, saying that Army Headquarters had yet to receive an
\nofficial letter from the President about any such dismissal.<\/p>\n
\"However, the Army has no objections if the chief is replaced
\nbecause it is the President's prerogative to do so,\" he said by
\nphone. (prb\/byg\/jaw\/dja\/rms\/imn)<\/p>",
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