Gus Dur backtracks on order to arrest Gen. Bimantoro

JAKARTA (JP): Within hours, President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid backtracked on his earlier statements on Thursday regarding the order to arrest outgoing National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro, following the reluctance of his top aides to carry out his instruction.

In a hastily arranged media conference on Thursday night, new Cabinet Secretary Marzuki Darusman rectified an earlier statement made by presidential spokesman Yahya Staquf about the order to arrest Bimantoro.

"Until now the President has not yet issued an effective instruction to arrest Gen. Bimantoro," Marzuki said.

Earlier in the afternoon, Yahya Staquf announced that the President had ordered Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs Gen. (ret) Agum Gumelar and newly appointed National Police deputy chief Comr. Gen. Chaeruddin to take legal measures against any defiance within the police.

According to an official media release from the presidential secretariat, Yahya did not specify any names, but clearly indicated the targets were Bimantoro and Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Sofjan Yacob.

"This (the insubordination) is intolerable behavior in relation to police discipline," Yahya quoted the President as saying, without explaining when the President issued the order.

Marzuki said he had told the President shortly before his media briefing that the statement of presidential spokesman Yahya Staquf on Bimantoro had caused unnecessary complications and public unrest.

When asked further by a foreign journalist about the detention order, Marzuki said in English, "I am authorized by the President to say that no order has ever been issued by the President".

Marzuki acknowledged that the President -- in a meeting with Agum, presidential military secretary Vice Marshall Budhy Santoso and Marzuki on Tuesday -- asked Agum to apprehend Bimantoro for his alleged insubordination against the President, but then softened his stance after being met with Agum's immediate disapproval.

The President then entrusted Agum to resolve the case and did not mention a specific deadline for the settlement, Marzuki said.

Separately, Agum acknowledged that he had rejected Abdurrahman's order against Bimantoro, saying only the President, and not he, had the authority to apprehend Bimantoro, who is on annual leave.

"The National Police chief's immediate commander (who can punish the police chief) is the President," Agum, who had boasted that Bimantoro would hand over his power to the President on Saturday, was quoted as saying by Antara.

Chaeruddin, who was assigned by the President to take over Bimantoro's day-to-day duties, insisted he only knew about the arrest order from TV news. "It is impossible to issue an order through television," Chaeruddin said.

Bimantoro defied the President's decision to dismiss him last month because, according to the People's Consultative Assembly decree, the appointment and replacement of National Police and military chiefs must have the prior approval of the House of Representatives.

Bimantoro's promotion to the position last year did not have the prior approval of the House either.

When contacted by city police reporters via his cell phone, Bimantoro, who was reportedly in Singapore, said: "I am willing to account for my actions, and those of my men in the field at any time to the President. I am absolutely sure that I have performed my duty as police chief, to the best of my abilities."

Separately, Sofjan stated on Thursday that he was ready to be arrested by the President.

"Yes, I am ready. However, I have never acted against the President or disobeyed him," Sofjan lightheartedly told reporters.

Despite Sofjan's relaxed attitude and Bimantoro's cool reaction, over 60 officers, fully armed with AK-101 rifles and other firearms, arrived in two police trucks and a police evacuation vehicle at 4:50 p.m. on Thursday, at Bimantoro's residence on Jl. Pattimura in Kebayoran, South Jakarta.

However, by 10 p.m. last night, their presence was no longer visible, soon after Marzuki's announcement. (ylt/prb)