Generals rebuked over secret meeting

By Kornelius Purba

THE HAGUE (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid warned Indonesian Army generals on Thursday against taking radical action, saying a group of generals had held a covert meeting in Jakarta during his absence.

Abdurrahman said he ordered Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Adm. Widodo A.S., National Police chief Gen. Roesdihardjo and Attorney General Marzuki Darusman to take stern measures to deal with attempts to disrupt security and public order.

"We fully control the situation, so they have to be careful about what they are doing," the visiting President said during a joint media conference with Dutch Prime Minister Wik Kok at the Binnenhof Prime Minister's Office.

Abdurrahman also sent out a strong signal against "militant" elements in Indonesian society who were planning a show of force in the coming days.

The President's allegations seemed an attempt to preempt any possible political move to undermine his power during his absence.

Abdurrahman claimed that a group of generals had just held a special meeting on Jl. Lautze, West Jakarta. He did not elaborate on when the meeting was held or who attended.

Citing a report from Jakarta, Abdurrahman also claimed that a group whom he described as "Muslim militants", had planned a massive demonstration against the government in Fatahillah Park, West Jakarta.

Emphasizing that he did not know whether Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Gen. Wiranto was behind the plan, the President merely said confidently the demonstration was engineered by irresponsible parties.

"I believe 'dirty hands' are behind that," Abdurrahman insisted.

Rumors of a coup and political uprising have reached fever pitch since a government-sanctioned inquiry implicated Wiranto and other military officers in the East Timor debacle and recommended the attorney general launch an investigation on them.

In Jakarta, Indonesian Military (TNI) spokesman Air Rear Marshal Graito Usodo denied that such a meeting had taken place.

"I've checked with personal assistants of some generals and none went to that place. The meeting never existed."

"If it was held in Cilangkap (TNI Headquarters), I would have been told about it," he said.

Maluku

Abdurrahman arrived in the Netherlands, Indonesia's former colonial ruler, on Wednesday. While his visit is primarily seen as the final move to recuperate once strained relations, his visit here has been marked with large demonstrations over the violence in Maluku.

A large crowd was at hand for his arrival and some 2,000 demonstrators were in the vicinity of the Dutch parliament buildings when Abdurrahman visited later on Thursday afternoon.

A small airplane hovered above the parliament building dragging a banner calling for an end to the Maluku violence.

Holland is home to a large community of expatriates from Maluku. Most fled after a failed separatist uprising known as the South Maluku Republic (RMS).

Speaking to journalists, Abdurrahman boasted that he was in control of the situation adding that much of the discontent which arose was due to the injustices of the past regime.

The President said he had also asked former Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers to be a special advisor on Maluku and invited him to Maluku to directly talk with the people there.

Abdurrahman said he was not disappointed by the rejection of RMS activists in the Netherlands to meet with him, saying that their refusal only harmed the group.

Meanwhile during the 90-minute meeting between Abdurrahman and Kok, the two leaders agreed to renew friendly relations between the two countries and enhance dialog, cooperation based on mutual respect and on the principles of sovereign equality.

Dutch officials said it could quickly resume development cooperation with Indonesia either bilaterally or through the World Bank-led Consultative Group on Indonesia.

Then president Soeharto disbanded the Dutch-led Inter- Governmental Group on Indonesia in 1990 due to perceived domestic interference by Dutch officials and formed the Consultative Group on Indonesia, which did not include the Netherlands.

During his stay here Abdurrahman also urged Indonesians who lived in exile abroad to return home.

He said their presence was needed to help build the country and that they would be perfectly safe in Indonesia.

"I assure you no one will disturb you there. Indonesia is owned by the people," the President said.

The President left The Hague on Thursday evening and flew to Bonn for a two-day visit as part of his 16-day visit to 13 countries in the Middle East, Europe and Asia.

He will return to Jakarta on Feb. 13. (prb)