Gus Dur refuses to aid Wiranto<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid on Monday refused to
\nsupport senior minister Gen. Wiranto, who faces growing
\naccusations of complicity, at home and abroad, in the campaign of
\nterror and massive destruction in East Timor in September.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman told reporters that he would allow the
\ninvestigation into Wiranto to run its full course, and let the
\ncourt decide the fate of his coordinating minister for political
\naffairs and security.<\/p>\n
\"I will not be swayed by any temptation. What is important is
\nthat we have to accept the decision of the court,\" he said during
\na ceremony to mark the 62nd anniversary of Antara, the state news
\nagency. He added that if Wiranto was found guilty by the court,
\nthen he would ask for his resignation.<\/p>\n
He was answering to a question on his position regarding the
\naccusation made by KPP-HAM, the government-sponsored independent
\ninquiry into the violence in East Timor, that Wiranto, who was
\nthe Indonesian Military (TNI) chief in September, was responsible
\nfor \"omission\" that allowed the violence to erupt.<\/p>\n
The commission has requested Abdurrahman's permission to
\nquestion Wiranto and a number of other TNI generals in connection
\nwith the mayhem in East Timor, perpetrated by pro-Indonesia
\nmilitias after they lost the Aug. 30 self-determination vote to
\nproindependence groups.<\/p>\n
Its preliminary finding tallied with that of a United Nations
\ninquiry which is looking into the possibility of a setting up a
\nwar crimes tribunal for Indonesian generals.<\/p>\n
The commission has the full support of the National Commission
\non Human Rights, which is chaired by Marzuki Darusman, who is
\nalso the attorney general in the President's Cabinet.<\/p>\n
TNI and its supporters had lashed out at both commissions for
\ntheir criticism of the military leadership, accusing them of
\nbowing to international pressure.<\/p>\n
Wiranto and the other generals implicated have retained the
\nservices of top national lawyers to represent them in the
\ninvestigation, which is expected to start later in the week.<\/p>\n
Separately, a senior TNI regional commander warned on Monday
\nthat any decision to question Wiranto and the other generals must
\nbe based on strong evidence.<\/p>\n
\"Now it seems that the generals are being tried by the public.
\nWe should avoid a public trial,\" Wirabuana\/South Sulawesi
\nMilitary chief Maj. Gen. Agus Wirahadikusumah said after a
\nhearing with the House of Representatives' Commission I for
\npolitical affairs and security.<\/p>\n
Agus admitted, however, that the generals should take
\nresponsibility for the action of their subordinates. \"No officers
\nare guilty, their commanders are guilty,\" he said at the hearing.<\/p>\n
The military has also come under strong attacks for alleged
\natrocities in Aceh. The government has agreed to set up a joint
\ncivil\/military tribunal to try soldiers who are responsible for
\npossible human rights abuses in Aceh.<\/p>\n
Agus called on the TNI leadership to ask for people's
\nforgiveness for human right abuses committed in the past, even as
\nit is facing the investigations and trials.<\/p>\n
\"The military generals should ask for an apology from the
\npeople and should promise not to commit any wrongdoings in the
\nfuture,\" said Agus, a vocal critic of TNI's leadership and past
\npractices, who was invited to give his view on the future of the
\nmilitary. Also invited to the House was military observer Salim
\nSaid.<\/p>\n
Agus said that even if the court failed to prove human rights
\nabuses due to lack of evidence, the military should nevertheless
\nmake that apology and pledge.<\/p>\n
This would help put matters behind us, and would allow the
\nnation to look to the future, he said.<\/p>\n
\"Through this hearing, I myself ask for an apology (for all
\nTNI's past wrongdoings),\" he said.<\/p>\n
Agus led 16 other active officers in launching a book entitled
\nIndonesia Baru dan Tantangan TNI (The New Indonesia and TNI's
\nChallenge) which questioned the political role of TNI.<\/p>\n
On Monday, he reiterated his stance in the book.<\/p>\n
\"TNI should go back to basics, that is defending the nation.
\nIt should keep far away from politics,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Military observer Salim, however, told the hearing that the
\nmilitary officers should be absolved of all misdeeds because they
\nwere simply doing their jobs.<\/p>\n
\"The officers could not avoid (committing abuses), since they
\nwere trapped and used by the former governments,\" Salim said.<\/p>\n
He said Indonesia could not get rid of the military because
\nits services were still vital. \"But it seems that everyone wants
\nto slaughter the officers,\" he said. (jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gus-dur-refuses-to-aid-wiranto-1447893297",
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