Abdurrahman must clarify Feisal allegation: Try

JAKARTA (JP): Former vice president Try Sutrisno joined the chorus of critics on Wednesday deploring President Aburrahman Wahid's allegation that a senior Indonesian Military (TNI) officer plotted against him when he was an opposition leader.

Try, who served as TNI chief from 1988 to 1993, suggested the President clarify his statement as soon as he returns from an extended trip to Asian and European countries.

"It's better if President Gus Dur clarifies the matter. As far as I know, there were no such instructions or commands to do what the President has alleged," Try said, referring to the President by his popular name.

While speaking about his good relationship with Coordinating Minister for Security and Political Affairs Gen. Wiranto, Abdurrahman said the general had saved him from an "elimination" order by the then TNI chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung.

Speaking after the closing ceremony of a national meeting of the Association of Retired Military and Police Officers (Pepabri) and its affiliated organizations here, Try said simply, "I have no idea" when he was asked about Abdurrahman's knowledge of the alleged plot.

Try said there was a possibility for Feisal to file a lawsuit against the President over his allegation.

"Everybody is equal and has the same rights before the law. We are living in a country which upholds the law.

"What else we are looking for if we have retired from the services, other than living in peace and refraining from offending others," he said.

Try himself could face allegations of wide-ranging human rights abuses and atrocities in Aceh during a decade-long military operation to quell separatists in the province.

Along with several active and retired generals he appeared before a House of Representative session held to query his responsibility for the violence in the province.

"I don't feel Gus Dur or anybody is aiming at me as their next target. If they want me to clarify, I'd like to do that," he said.

He said he could understand it if at present people were demanding explanations of past military policies.

Abdurrahman insisted on Tuesday he had evidence that Feisal was involved in the attack on the Indonesian Democratic Party's headquarters on July 27, 1996, and a plan to unseat him as the chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama in 1994.

Attorney General Marzuki Darusman has unveiled a plan to summon Feisal over the President's allegations.

In response to Marzuki's move, Abdurrahman said in New Delhi on Wednesday that he would let the planned questioning go ahead.

Wiranto

Abdurrahman wound up his two-day visit to India on Wednesday saying he was adamant that Gen. Wiranto should resign over the East Timor violence in order to evade an international tribunal that has been proposed in some quarters.

"I'm of the opinion that he (Wiranto) must resign. If not so, I have the prerogative to do what's best," Wahid said at a news conference before leaving for South Korea.

While maintaining he had "great respect" for the former TNI chief, Abdurrahman reiterated he would pardon Wiranto if he was found guilty.

"I will pardon him because it has been my opinion for a long time that I will pardon former presidents, vice presidents and Armed Forces' chiefs," Abdurrahman said.

Wiranto attended a Cabinet meeting chaired by Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri in Jakarta on Wednesday and said he was awaiting the return of the President.

"I'm waiting for the President to come back. Then, as his aide, I will report to him not only in my capacity as security minister during his absence, but also as acting foreign minister.

"I will also report my position on the legal process I'm facing now. Resign or not, active or not, let's wait for a fair legal process." (emf/prb)