Gus Dur won't issue decree: Army chief<\/p>\n
BANDUNG (JP): Indonesian Military (TNI) Army Chief of Staff
\nGen. Endriartono Sutarto expressed confidence on Monday that
\nPresident Abdurrahman \"Gus Dur\" Wahid would not issue a decree
\nimposing a state of emergency, as it would only damage further
\nthe already divisive situation in the country.<\/p>\n
After installing here the new Siliwangi Military Commander
\nMaj. Gen. Darsono to replace Maj. Gen. Djainuri Hasyim,
\nEndriartono said that the President would be wise enough not to
\nissue such a decree.<\/p>\n
\"I personally know Gus Dur well, he is a wise and shrewd
\nperson and therefore (he) will not impose such a decree, because
\nthat would worsen the already chaotic situation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Endriartono further asserted that the Army would support a
\nconstitutional move, including the process of replacement of the
\nnational leadership.<\/p>\n
\"The Army does not side with certain individuals,\" he said,
\nadding that it would support the government if the special
\nsession of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) ruled that
\nAbdurrahman should continue as president until 2004.<\/p>\n
\"We will be supportive and loyal to the results of the
\nConstitutional process and not to individuals,\" he asserted.<\/p>\n
Asked about possible rioting during the special session, he
\nsaid that the Army had yet to make special preparations for
\nsecurity. \"Whenever the Military chief instructs the Army, we,
\nthe Army, will be ready,\" he said, playing down the possibility
\nthat a certain political party's supporters would riot while the
\nsession was taking place.<\/p>\n
In a related development, West Java Police chief Brig. Gen.
\nSudirman Ali said 10,000 personnel would be ready to back up the
\nArmy whenever needed, during, before or after the session.<\/p>\n
\"There will be ordinary security arrangements in place, not in
\nanticipation of possible rioting due to the resignation of the
\nPresident,\" said Sudirman.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and
\nSecurity Affairs Agum Gumelar suggested on Monday that the
\nPresident not issue a decree, should political compromise fail.<\/p>\n
\"The President has many times reiterated his will to issue a
\ndecree ... But, as his minister, I have to prevent it,\" Agum told
\nreporters at his office.<\/p>\n
\"We still have an opportunity to reach compromise,\" Agum was
\nquick to add.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, an observer based in the South Sulawesi capital of
\nMakassar said on Monday that the failure of the Bogor meeting
\ncould probably prompt Gus Dur to issue the decree.<\/p>\n
Gus Dur called a meeting of political party leaders at Bogor
\npresidential palace on Monday. The meeting failed, however, as
\nonly the National Awakening Party -- his own -- responded to the
\ninvitation.<\/p>\n
\"The only (remaining) way for Gus Dur to retain his seat is by
\nissuing a decree,\" M. Darwis, a sociologist from Hasanuddin
\nUniversity told The Jakarta Post. \"Many compromise efforts have
\nfailed, so the final 'weapon' would be the decree.\"<\/p>\n
He believed that Gus Dur would issue the decree on the grounds
\nthat the party leaders had turned down a compromise offer by
\nskipping the meeting.<\/p>\n
Another comment was voiced by Ichlasul Amal from Yogyakarta,
\nwho said that the door to compromise was about to be closed now
\nas political party leaders failed to appear at the meeting.<\/p>\n
Amal, rector of Gadjah Mada University and one of Gus Dur's
\nstaunch critics, expressed his pessimism that Gus Dur could save
\nhis position in the special session.<\/p>\n
\"As I have said many times before, Gus Dur is being hit by his
\nown political maneuvers that always spark controversy,\" he said,
\nstressing that Gus Dur was a stubborn man. (25\/27\/44\/tso\/sur)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gus-dur-wont-issue-decree-army-chief-1447893297",
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