Defense minister Mahfud warns of military intervention

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense Mahfud M.D. warned people that the chaotic political situation in the capital could open the door for the military to take power with an argument that they did so to save the nation.

"The Indonesian Military (TNI) is bound to its code of conduct obligating it to preserve the unity of the nation. Just remember that TNI has weapons," Mahfud told reporters on the sidelines of a gathering of Muslim organizations on Monday.

Despite the intense political situation, Mahfud appreciates the circumstances and that the House could have ideas that differ from the President's.

"A situation like this would never have occurred during the last 32 years under the New Order regime when all of the state institutions obeyed the President completely," Mahfud said.

Commenting on the House of Representatives' plenary session to hear the conclusions of the special House committee investigating the Bulog and Brunei scandals, Mahfud said the cases were too trivial to topple President Abdurrahman 'Gus Dur' Wahid.

He contended that the President would remain strong, even if the committee declared he was involved in the scandals.

The committee is investigating the fraudulent withdrawal of Rp 35 billion (US$3.7 million) from the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) by the President's masseur and the President's handling of a $2 million donation from the Sultan of Brunei that the President claims was a personal gift.

"Gus Dur has only violated procedures by letting it (the fraudulent withdrawal) happen, but he has not violated the Constitution.

"Gus Dur might be charged with violating the Constitution if he changed the state ideology, for instance," Mahfud said.

Mahfud suggested that the House give Gus Dur a stern rebuke, as they did in the case of the civilian militia (Kamra) and the 1999 Law on Security, rather than proposing a memorandum.

Mahfud was also critical of the genuineness of demonstrators who rallied in the capital and other places around the country, alleging that most of them were paid by certain political powers.

"These paid demonstrations have deviated from the meaning of democracy. And if they continue, the Indonesian Military (TNI) might later take power.

"TNI has decided to stay out of day-to-day politics, therefore civilian politicians should close the door to the possibility of TNI intervention," Mahfud said, adding that it was not necessary to impose an emergency situation in the capital.

Meanwhile, Nahdlatul Ulama chairman Hasyim Muzadi blamed the House for the mass mobilization in the capital due to their initiative to form the special committee to investigate cases which discredited the President.

"I could not forbid NU's massing in its effort to support Gus Dur. But the masses do not belong to NU alone, there are also student protesters of Forkot, Forbes and residents of Banten province, and people sympathetic to Gus Dur," Hasyim said as quoted by Antara.

Furthermore, Hasyim regretted the special House committee's attempts to seek legitimacy through mass mobilization.

"In seeking support for their conclusion, the committee should not generate support from the street by inviting these masses.

"Because the presence of these crowds is the result of their work, I've no doubt the House is to blame for the chaotic situation around the capital," Hasyim said.

Hasyim claimed that certain anti-President groups had made subversive efforts to topple the President by deploying people to add pressure to what was happening. (02)