Controversy over Wiranto intensifies

Controversy over Wiranto intensifies

JAKARTA (JP): The discourse on whether Coordinating Minister
for Political Affairs and Security Gen. Wiranto should resign
over the East Timor debacle snowballed on Thursday, amid fears
about a further plunge of the rupiah resulting from the political
tension.

A financial market observer, Theo Toemion, expected the
Indonesian currency to break the Rp 8,000 level against the
greenback by next week if Wiranto's status remained uncertain.

"President Abdurrahman Wahid's plan to dismiss Wiranto has
caused anxiety among dealers who are expecting a strong man to
either comply with or resist the President's order," Theo told
Antara.

Theo said the fall of rupiah would continue, due to the fact
that Abdurrahman, who is on a whirlwind trip to Europe, would not
return home until Feb. 13.

After slipping to Rp 7,700 against the U.S. dollar in early
Asian trade, its lowest level since mid-October, the rupiah ended
at Rp 7,660, down from Rp 7,520 late on Wednesday.

Theo, who is also a House of Representatives legislator
representing the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan), warned that the country's fate was at stake if the
government failed to cope with the stand-off between Abdurrahman
and Wiranto.

A caucus of young politicians, meanwhile, hailed on Thursday
Abdurrahman's demand for Wiranto's resignation.

The group's spokesman, Heri Achmadi of PDI Perjuangan, said
all sides, including Wiranto and his supporters, should respect
the President's prerogative and his strong commitment to the rule
of law.

"We should support Gus Dur's legitimate government and Wiranto
is also expected to do the same to calm down the political
situation at home," he told a news conference here, referring to
the President by his popular name.

Abdurrahman has said he would ask Wiranto to leave the Cabinet
following the National Commission on Human Rights' (Komnas HAM)
recent recommendation to the government to investigate five
generals, including Wiranto, for their alleged involvement in the
violence that swept East Timor after the Aug. 30 ballot.

Wiranto was the Indonesian Military (TNI) chief when violence
and destruction flared up in East Timor last year.

The caucus included House deputy speaker Muhaimin Iskandar,
Ali Masjkur Musa of the People's Awakening Party (PKB), Bara
Hasibuan of the National Mandate Party (PAN) and Meilono Suwondo
from PDI Perjuangan.

Muhaimin said Wiranto should be nonactive to allow a fair
investigation into the human rights abuses.

"It will be difficult for the Attorney General's Office to
conduct an investigation while Wiranto still holds his current
post," he said.

"But if Wiranto is found not guilty in court, he should retain
his job."

Muhaimin said the President's decision was also aimed at
preventing an international tribunal to try TNI top brass on
charges of human rights abuses.

While both Bara and Ali asserted that the group's stance would
be identical to that of their respective parties, Heri said his
faction at the House had yet to announce its official stance on
the matter.

"But, the PDI Perjuangan faction is expected to support the
President's decision for the sake off law enforcement," he said.

Meanwhile, Amin Aryoso and Postdam Hutasoit, both PDI
Perjuangan legislators, said their faction would entrust the
Wiranto affair to the President.

"It depends on the President whether he will fire or ask him
to resign. It is the President's prerogative to do so. The most
important thing is that the government follows up the
commission's report fairly," Postdam said.

Amin said not only Wiranto and the other four generals, but
former president B.J. Habibie should be investigated because the
ballot proposal came from Habibie.

Separately, criminologist Mulyana W. Kusumah said there was no
reason for Wiranto to step down until the Attorney General's
Office completed the formal investigation.

"Wiranto should be nonactive only if he is declared as
suspect," he said on the sidelines of a seminar here.

Political observer Affan Gafar, who also spoke at the seminar,
regretted that the President announced his plan to ask Wiranto to
resign while abroad.

"The President should have waited until he was at home, as his
move has drawn mixed interpretations," Affan said.

He also said it was unnecessary for Wiranto to resign until
the court proved him guilty. (rms/jun)