TNI to help police secure MPR session<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Top Indonesian Military (TNI) officers said TNI
\nwould assist police in safeguarding the coming special session of
\nthe People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and indicated that it
\ncould not at present support the imposition of a state of
\nemergency.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Military Commander Adm. Widodo A.S. said on
\nWednesday that the military would fully back up the National
\nPolice for the event, slated to commence on Aug. 1.<\/p>\n
\"TNI will support the National Police by deploying its
\npersonnel to guard the political event that is expected to seek a
\nsolution to the country's problems,\" Widodo told reporters at a
\njoint media conference with the Assembly speaker Amien Rais,
\nafter the two had held a meeting with Assembly leaders to discuss
\nsecurity arrangements for the event.<\/p>\n
\"My only hope is that the event will be held for the sake of
\nthe nation,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The nation has been in caught in a political deadlock, with
\nthe Assembly set to convene a special session to seek President
\nAbdurrahman Wahid's accountability, opening the way for his
\npossible removal from office.<\/p>\n
The President has warned that if no political compromise is
\nfound and the Assembly continues to seek his accountability, he
\nwill impose a state of civil emergency.<\/p>\n
The official presence of the military in the current
\natmosphere could mark a strategic and pivotal move, as under the
\nterms of a civil emergency, security falls under the domain of
\nthe National Police.<\/p>\n
The run-up to the Assembly special session is occurring
\nagainst the backdrop of uproar within police ranks, following
\nAbdurrahman's dismissal of National Police chief Gen. Surojo
\nBimantoro and his replacement by the President's own appointee.<\/p>\n
During Widodo's meeting with Assembly leaders on Wednesday, he
\nwas accompanied by his deputy chiefs of staff, chief of the
\nStrategic Intelligence Body (Bais) Vice Marshall Ian Santoso
\nPerdanakusuma, TNI's chief of territorial affairs Lt. Gen. Agus
\nWidjojo, TNI's chief of general affairs Lt. Gen. Djamari
\nChaniago, and the Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Bibit
\nWaluyo.<\/p>\n
Accompanying Amien were Lt. Gen. Hari Sabarno of the TNI
\nfaction, Soetjipto of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
\nfaction, and Ginandjar Kartasasmita of the regional
\nrepresentatives faction.<\/p>\n
Widodo, in his statement, also warned members of the political
\nelite to refrain from mobilizing their supporters, in order to
\navoid rioting in the capital and nationwide.<\/p>\n
Emergency<\/p>\n
When asked point blank by reporters whether TNI would support
\nthe imposition of a state of emergency and the consequent
\ndissolution of the House of Representatives and the Assembly,
\nWidodo remained evasive, replying that an Assembly decree stated
\nthat TNI is a tool for the defense of the state and the
\nConstitution.<\/p>\n
\"Our stance is clear, based on Assembly Decree No. VII\/2000
\nTNI is a defense instrument that must uphold the Constitution,\"
\nWidodo said.<\/p>\n
Amien, however, was more blunt in his reply, taking Widodo,
\nwho sat next to him, by surprise.<\/p>\n
He claimed that the TNI chief had told him during the
\ndiscussion that \"declaring a state of emergency is not as easy as
\nit looks.\"<\/p>\n
\"The TNI chief's reply was more or less like this: 'The
\nissuance of a decree declaring a state of emergency is governed
\nby some conditions. And if these conditions are not fulfilled,
\nthe decree becomes null and void,'\" Amien said, without
\nelaborating on what the conditions might be.<\/p>\n
Amien further claimed that TNI was committed to the holding of
\nthe special session in order to uphold democracy.<\/p>\n
For this reason, TNI had promised to back up the National
\nPolice to safeguard the event, Amien said.<\/p>\n
Later in the day, the Assembly leaders also held another
\nmeeting with senior National Police officers that included
\nJakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Sofjan Yacob.<\/p>\n
Bimantoro, who is on leave of absence, and National Police
\ndeputy chief Com. Gen. Chaeruddin Ismail were not present.<\/p>\n
Sofjan said the police were ready to guard the special
\nsession, even if the event were brought forward from its
\nscheduled date of Aug. 1.<\/p>\n
\"We have reported the strategy on our security preparations
\nnationwide ... In a normal situation, we would deploy about 5,600
\njoint military-police personnel. This number may increase to
\n14,000 to 28,000 if the situation turns violent,\" Sofjan said.<\/p>\n
\"We are keeping alert to protect the special session, even if
\nit is accelerated,\" Sofjan said.<\/p>\n
He further said that the dualism within the National Police
\nleadership had not influenced the readiness of police
\npersonnel.(tso)<\/p>",
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