President supports Agus in argument with Wiranto<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid on Friday threw
\nhis support behind Maj. Gen. Agus Wirahadikusumah, who is facing
\ndisciplinary measures for openly criticizing former Indonesian
\nMilitary (TNI) chief Gen. Wiranto.<\/p>\n
Speaking during a dialog with local leaders, the President
\nsaid he did not think that the chief of the Wirabuana Military
\nCommand overseeing Sulawesi should be punished for his remarks.<\/p>\n
\"If Pak Agus has had to talk to the press on such matters, it
\nmeans that the communication within TNI is not flowing smoothly,
\nor at the very least, there is a problem there,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The President stressed that he did not mean to interfere in
\nTNI's internal affairs. \"I am not defending Agus. I don't even
\nknow much about him.\"<\/p>\n
Gen. Wiranto was suspended from his powerful post as
\ncoordinating minister for political affairs and security last
\nweek to allow a government investigation into his alleged role in
\nthe East Timor violence in September.<\/p>\n
While accepting the President's decision graciously, Wiranto
\ntook particular offense at Maj. Gen. Agus' remarks that called
\nfor his resignation from the government. Agus also said that
\nWiranto should join the opposition Golkar party.<\/p>\n
Wiranto, who remains in active military service, considered
\nthe remarks an insubordination and demanded that the military
\nleadership discipline Agus.<\/p>\n
Agus was summoned to Jakarta on Thursday by Army Chief of
\nStaff Gen. Tyasno Sudarto, but Army spokesman Brig. Gen. I Dewa
\nPutu Rai stressed that he was simply asked to clarify himself.<\/p>\n
Agus, according to Putu Rai, said during the meeting that his
\nstatements had been distorted by the media.<\/p>\n
Putu Rai declined to say whether Agus would be punished at
\nthis stage.<\/p>\n
But he said the Army was committed to upholding the command
\nline and unity, without closing chances for members to express
\ntheir opinions.<\/p>\n
\"In military tradition, there are methods and codes for
\nsoldiers to deliver their opinions on any matter, including about
\nour seniors,\" Putu Rai told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
The row between the two generals goes back to the time when
\nWiranto was still TNI chief.<\/p>\n
Last year, Agus led a number of young military generals in
\ndenouncing TNI's political role of the past 30 years and calling
\non the leadership to remove the military from politics
\naltogether. He was subsequently moved out of Jakarta, away from
\nthe center of pwer, to his current post in Makassar.<\/p>\n
TNI Chief of General Affairs Lt. Gen. Suaidy Marasabessy said
\non Thursday that the TNI leadership would undergo another major
\nshakeup, but Agus' name was not included among those rumored for
\nnew tours of duty.<\/p>\n
Suaidy confirmed that TNI Chief Admiral Widodo had ordered
\nGen. Tyasno to take disciplinary measure against Agus for asking
\nWiranto to step down from the Cabinet.<\/p>\n
Five-star Gen. (ret) A.H. Nasution, the military's oldest
\nliving general, criticized Agus for making public what was
\nessentially an internal Army row.<\/p>\n
\"Differences must be settled inside TNI,\" Nasution said.<\/p>\n
Gen. Edi Sudradjat, a former military chief, praised Agus for
\nhis critical views on the military leadership, but regretted the
\nway he voiced his opinion because it could confuse the people.<\/p>\n
\"You have to know where and how to express your views,\"
\nSudradjat said. (swa\/prb\/emf)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/president-supports-agus-in-argument-with-wiranto-1447893297",
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