Relations between Gus Dur and police deteriorate<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The relationship between President Abdurrahman
\nWahid and the police has hit a new low following the President's
\ndismissal of National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro on
\nFriday.<\/p>\n
The tension escalated on Saturday after the President
\nofficially declared that Bimantoro \"has tendered his resignation\"
\nand that \"any information that Bimantoro has not been deactivated
\nmust be taken as fictional\".<\/p>\n
The President made the statement while installing Comr. Gen.
\nChaeruddin Ismail as new National Police deputy chief during a
\nceremony at Merdeka Palace on Saturday. Chaeruddin replaces Comr.
\nGen. Pandji Atmasudirdja.<\/p>\n
Minutes earlier the President installed Agum Gumelar as the
\nnew coordinating minister for political, social and security
\naffairs to replace Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who was dismissed by
\nthe President on Friday.<\/p>\n
Bimantoro attended the induction of Agum, but he skipped the
\nceremony installing Chaeruddin in his new post.<\/p>\n
Bimantoro announced on Friday that he would not comply with
\nthe President's demand that he tender his resignation.<\/p>\n
The general said that the House of Representatives (DPR) must
\napprove the dismissal of the chief of the National Police.
\nHowever, Bimantoro was appointed to the post last year to replace
\nRusdihardjo in a move that never received the House's approval.<\/p>\n
Bimantoro said on the sidelines of Agum's induction ceremony
\nthat his main concern was not his replacement. \"The problem for
\nme is that I refuse to send in my resignation letter.\"<\/p>\n
Chaeruddin's appointment was made through Presidential Decree
\nNo. 40 and 41\/POLRI\/2001, which states that he has the full
\nauthority and responsibility as National Police chief and that
\nBimantoro has been \"officially\" dismissed.<\/p>\n
The House has taken the stance that the dismissal of Bimantoro
\nwill worsen the conflict between the President and the
\nlegislature.<\/p>\n
\"The DPR regret and is deeply concerned over the latest
\npolitical developments, especially the Cabinet reshuffle and the
\nsuspension of the National Police chief. All this will worsen the
\ntension between the President and the House. This will negatively
\nimpact the planned MPR (People's Consultative Assembly) special
\nsession,\" House Deputy Speaker Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno said at a
\nmedia conference here on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Soetardjo warned the President against dismissing Bimantoro
\nand using the National Police to maintain the status quo, saying
\nany leadership reshuffles in the Indonesian Military and the
\nNational Police must be approved by the House.<\/p>\n
\"The President's action to suspend Bimantoro could prove
\ncounterproductive in that the military, the police and the
\nmajority of the people will rebuff him (the President),\" he said.<\/p>\n
Ultimatum<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman, apparently upset by Bimantoro's refusal to
\nresign, said when inducing Chaeruddin that all his dismissal of
\nBimantoro was an official order.<\/p>\n
\"The deactivation of Bimantoro and the installment of
\nChaeruddin is a (Presidential) order that must be adhered to. All
\nlayers of the Indonesian National Police must respect and abide
\nby the order, and those who oppose it will be considered guilty
\nof insubordination and face legal measures,\" the President said.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman reiterated that the police were in charge of
\nsecurity. \"The police must not be involved in politics. Staying
\naway from politics would enable the police to help the people
\ndevelop their daily lives.\"<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman earlier rebuked the police for their handling of
\nviolent demonstrations in Pasuruan, East Java, where one person
\ndied of gunshot wounds and several others were hospitalized.<\/p>\n
Both Bimantoro and National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Didi
\nWidayadi said they acted according to standard police procedures
\nin dealing with the disturbances in Pasuruan.<\/p>\n
East Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Sutanto also defended
\nBimantoro, saying in Surabaya on Saturday that his men had to
\nfire into the angry mob, who had begun attacking police officers
\nand vandalizing and looting property.<\/p>\n
\"We used rubber bullets to disperse the mob during a series of
\nviolent demonstrations in Pasuruan,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Thousands of people, claiming to be Abdurrahman supporters,
\ntook to the streets in Pasuruan after the President issued a
\ncontroversial executive order on Monday instructing his top
\nsecurity minister to restore security and order in the country.<\/p>\n
One man, identified as Fathan, was shot dead during a clash
\nbetween the mob and the police. Eyewitnesses said that Fathan had
\njust left a sidewalk stall selling drinks when he was shot in the
\nchest.<\/p>\n
Bimantoro's refusal to submit his letter of resignation
\nreportedly has been hailed by all provincial police chiefs, who
\ngathered in Jakarta on Saturday for internal discussions.
\n(nur\/rms\/sur)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/relations-between-gus-dur-and-police-deteriorate-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}