Bimantoro continues to defy suspension

Bimantoro continues to defy suspension

JAKARTA (JP): National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro has
continued to defy President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid's orders
demanding his suspension as police chief and has received backing
from the legislature and strengthening support from inside the
police force.

Bimantoro has ordered all provincial police chiefs to hold a
ceremonial parade with their officers in their respective areas
on Tuesday, and to pledge allegiance to him.

The parade in Jakarta, which will also involve soldiers from
the military, will be held at the National Monument and presided
over by Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Sofjan Yacob.

Sofjan, who on Sunday pledged his support for Bimantoro, has
reportedly invited him as the police chief to preside over the
parade at the National Monument.

National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Didi Widayadi said on
Monday that all provincial police chiefs would make a pledge on
Tuesday that they would stay united and reject any intervention.

"We will pledge our obedience to the institution of the
National Police, that it may not be politicized," Didi told The
Jakarta Post.

"We support Pak Bimantoro, not in his private capacity. If he
should be replaced, it must be in accordance with the
procedures," he added.

President Abdurrahman inaugurated on Saturday the new deputy
police chief, Insp. Gen. Chaeruddin Ismail, and tasked him with
taking over all responsibilities as National Police chief from
Bimantoro, whom the President suspended.

The President's decision ignited criticism and objections from
no less then 100 top-ranking officials of the police force who
publicly expressed their resentment over the suspension.

They contended that the replacement of the National Police
chief must be reported to and receive approval from the House of
Representatives, as stipulated in People's Consultative Assembly
Decree No.7/2000.

In an apparent move to challenge his suspension, Bimantoro
installed 94 high-ranking and middle-ranking police officers to
posts in the new police organizational structure in a ceremony
held at the National Police Headquarters on Sunday morning.

The ceremony, however, was not attended by Chaeruddin. He met
Bimantoro later on Sunday. Chaeruddin hugged Bimantoro in front
of photographers. No official statement was given by either of
them, but Chaeruddin dismissed speculation that he would resign.

"I will not step down," Chaeruddin told reporters shortly.

Bimantoro met with leaders of eight major factions from the
House of Representatives on Sunday evening at the Bimasena
meeting hall in South Jakarta, in which the factions declared
their support for Bimantoro.

"According to the House, the National Police chief is still
Bimantoro," the chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction, Arifin Panigoro, told
reporters after the meeting.

Besides PDI Perjuangan, the other factions represented at the
meeting were the Golkar Party faction, the United Development
Party (PPP) faction, Reform faction, the Crescent Stars Party
faction (PBB) faction, the Indonesian Military and National
Police faction (TNI/Polri) faction, the Indonesian Nationhood
(KKI) faction and the United People's Sovereignty (PDU) faction.

Bimantoro met with three former National Police chiefs on
Monday at Graha Purnawira on Jl. Dharmawangsa in South Jakarta.
They were Awaloeddin Djamin, Sanusi and Roesmanhadi. The former
police chiefs also threw their support behind Bimantoro.

"We reject the fact that National Police chief Gen. Bimantoro
has been relieved from his duties. It goes against existing
regulations," Awaloeddin said after the meeting.

"We also reject the fact that the National Police is being
made a political tool. It is an independent institution, and
politics should have no place in it."

Also on Monday, Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri threw
her support behind Bimantoro, noting that the replacement of the
National Police chief should have followed the procedure
stipulated in the People's Consultative Assembly decree.

"PDI Perjuangan and Ibu Megawati still consider Gen. Surojo
Bimantoro as the National Police chief," PDI Perjuangan's deputy
secretary-general Pramono Anung told The Jakarta Post after his
meeting with Megawati on Monday.

Pramono also dismissed Abdurrahman's allegation that Bimantoro
had helped create a rift between Megawati and the President.

"Ibu (Megawati) had never considered that Bimantoro created a
rift between her and Gus Dur. In her exact words, she said: 'Why
should we react to such a thing'," Pramono said. (dja/ylt)