Bibit assigned to guard Jakarta

JAKARTA (JP): In anticipation of security uncertainties in the capital, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto has decided to replace Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Slamet Kirbiantoro with Maj. Gen. Bibit Waluyo.

"We are preparing for the worst security situation in the capital due to political conflicts, but we do expect it to happen.

"As Jakarta is the center of government activities, any disturbance in Jakarta will have a big impact on other regions," Endriartono said.

He dismissed speculation that the change of guard was due to Slamet's inability to maintain security and order in the Greater Jakarta area.

"Everyone has their own talents," Endriartono said.

Slamet, who was raised in a family affiliated to the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Muslim organization, was named Jakarta military commander last August in place of Ryamizard Ryacudu, the current chief of the Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad).

During his brief term, Jakarta was rocked by a series of bombings, the latest on Christmas Eve.

Slamet, a 1970 graduate of the Armed Forces Academy (Akabri), will be assigned as deputy inspector general of the Indonesian Military (TNI).

Bibit, an 1972 Akabri graduate, was born in Kutoarjo, Central Java, on March 18, 1948. He held the top post at the Garuda Hitam Military Command in Lampung in 1996 before he was transferred to Central Java as Diponegoro Military Command chief of staff in 1997. He was promoted as Central Java military commander in 1999.

He was named the chief of the Army Staff and Command School last July. The post will remain vacant until the Army headquarters chooses his replacement.

The induction of Bibit will be held on Monday at the Jakarta Military Headquarters. On the same day, the new Trikora military commander Maj. Gen. Mahidin Simbolon will be inducted in the Irian Jaya capital of Jayapura.

"Since the two ceremonies fall on the same day, my deputy Pak Kiki (Syahnakrie) will swear in Pak Mahidin, while I will induct Pak Bibit here," Endriartono said.

Mahidin replaces the late Maj. Gen. Tonny A. Rompis, who along with eight other passengers, died in a Navy airplane crash in Jayawijaya regency in Irian Jaya on Jan. 8.

Mahidin's post as commander of Kostrad's 2nd Infantry Division in Malang, East Java, will be filled by Brig. Gen. Achmad D. Sikki.

The transfer of duty between Mahidin and Achmad will be held on Jan. 19 at Kostrad's 2nd Division Headquarters.

Over the past few weeks, rumors of clashes between supporters and opponents of President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid have given Jakartans the jitters.

More than 40,000 military and police personnel have been deployed in the city to anticipate mass mobilizations.

Security priority is given to strategic venues, such as the presidential palace, the House of Representatives building, embassies, and telecommunication and economic centers.

After a rumored antigovernment rally failed to materialize on Jan. 15, on Wednesday about 3,000 students and youths protested at the House of Representatives compound calling for the President's resignation over his alleged involvement in two financial scandals.

The protesters also said that Gus Dur had failed to combat corrupt, collusive, and nepotistic practices.

Also on Wednesday, thousands of Abdurrahman's supporters from NU staged separate demonstrations across East Java, the stronghold of the Muslim organization.

As antigovernment rallies are expected to continue until the House's special committee investigating Abdurrahman's alleged involvement in the financial scandal at the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) announces the results of its probe on Jan. 24, tight security will be maintained at the House compound, where more than 1,000 riot police have been posted.

Minister of Industry and Trade Luhut B. Panjaitan said in Singapore earlier this week that TNI was fully behind the President.

In response to the statement, Endriartono said the TNI pledged its loyalty to the Constitution.

"Gus Dur was constitutionally elected as president. As TNI is a state instrument, we will respect the presidency. We support the presidency, not Gus Dur in his personal capacity," Endriartono said.

As a state instrument, TNI is also responsible for protecting the President, the Vice President, and state institutions, Endriatono said. (02)