Gus Dur reveals coup attempt<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The uneasy relationship between President
\nAbdurrahman Wahid and the Indonesian Military (TNI) was again
\nhighlighted on Tuesday with the revelation of a coup attempt by
\nsome regional military commanders.<\/p>\n
Speaking on state TVRI's \"Coffee Morning with Gus Dur\",
\nbroadcast live on Tuesday morning, the President said he was not
\nworried at all about the generals' rebellion attempt, saying the
\nmajority of the people remained fully behind him.<\/p>\n
\"I know that several Pangdam (territorial military commander)
\nare working to mobilize anti-Gus Dur forces. It is really
\nhappening. However, I don't worry about it at all because I
\nbelieve that the people are behind me,\" said Abdurahman, who is
\npopularly called Gus Dur.<\/p>\n
As usual, Abdurrahman did not give more details. This is at
\nleast the second time he has made allegations of this kind since
\nbecoming president.<\/p>\n
While on a visit to the Netherlands early last month, he said
\nthat a group of generals had held a secret meeting on Jl. Lautze,
\nCentral Jakarta, with the intention of toppling his government.<\/p>\n
\"I believe 'dirty hands' are behind this,\" Abdurrahman said at
\nthe time.<\/p>\n
The country is divided into 11 military commands (Kodam), four
\nof which are on Java and two on Sumatra.<\/p>\n
TNI announced a major reshuffle on Nov. 4, shortly before Gen.
\nWiranto handed over his post as TNI chief to Adm. Widodo A.S., in
\nwhich seven regional military commanders were replaced.<\/p>\n
Among them was Maj. Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu, the son-in-law of
\nformer vice president Gen. Try Sutrisno, who replaced Maj. Gen.
\nDjadja Suparman as Jakarta Military commander. Ryamizard was
\nreplaced by Maj. Gen. Sudi Silalahi as Brawijaya Military chief,
\nwhich oversees East Java and Madura.<\/p>\n
Djadja, who was promoted to the head of the Army's Strategic
\nCommand, lost his position to Maj. Gen. Agus Wirahadikusumah
\nearly this month. Agus was in charge of security in Sulewesi for
\nthree months from December.<\/p>\n
\" It is the government's duty to prevent the actions of those
\nwho try and distract it,\" said the President.<\/p>\n
The President said certain groups in society were not happy
\nwith his government because of his actions to enforce the law and
\ncombat corruption.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman also pointed his finger at the press, including
\nthe foreign media, saying they were responsible for spreading
\nirresponsible and even slanderous stories about him, including on
\nthe role of his daughter Zannuba Arifah \"Yeni\" Chafsoh.<\/p>\n
\"There are also other ways, I'm sorry to say ... journalists
\ndo thoughtless things,\" the President remarked.<\/p>\n
He deplored a recent report in a foreign magazine that
\ndescribed him as regularly receiving businessmen who ask him for
\nprivileges.<\/p>\n
\"There is a foreign magazine that reported I receive
\nbusinessmen every night who ask for facilities,\" the President
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Salim Said, a senior military observer, said the
\nPresident should take stern measures if he has accurate
\ninformation on the territorial military commanders behind the
\ncoup.<\/p>\n
\"I don't know about the military commanders, but if the
\nPresident has accurate data he should take action rather than
\nmake controversial statements that confuse the people,\" he said
\nhere on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
He said he did not doubt the president's power to take action
\nagainst dissident commanders.<\/p>\n
\"If the President could move Maj. Gen. Agus Wirahadikusumah
\nfrom Ujungpandang to be the chief of the Army's Strategic Reserve
\nCommand (Kostrad) and Lt. Gen. Suaidi Marasabessy, he will be
\nable to do so with the commanders,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In Atambua, East Nusa Tenggara, visiting Rear Marshal Graito
\nUsodo, spokesman for the Indonesian Military (TNI), said he did
\nnot know who the President was speaking about and would check it
\nwith the Army chief.<\/p>\n
\"I have been here all day long and I do not know what the
\nPresident was speaking about exactly. If the President said that
\nthere was a military command chief who was organizing people to
\ntopple his government, I will check on it with the Army chief,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
He said he was surprised that the President made such a
\ncontroversial statement and did not know the background behind
\nit. (prb\/rms\/lem)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gus-dur-reveals-coup-attempt-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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