Bibit assigned to guard Jakarta

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)